April 2013

NORTH STARTHE

STUDENT NEWS MAGAZINE OF NSHSVOLUME 31 ISSUE 4

Students vs. Parents Debate rages over a teen’s first car

Mr. Smith goes to NOLA pg. 4

A gentleman and a scholar pg. 3

Taylor Swift sees ‘Red ‘ pg. 12

pg. 8

repainted. Bathrooms were cleaned as well, and new tiles and urinal dividers were among the additions. The county also installed new air conditioning units in the school. Since Stafford Senior High School is the oldest school in the county, it was first to receive funding from the School Board. Now that its plans for a new school are in progress, the county is turning its attention north, said assistant princi-pal Margaret Lowry. “I’m very excited that the county has approved of these new additions,” said Ms. Lowry. “As the second oldest school in the county, North Stafford needs improvements.” Among the improvements that are currently under way at North Stafford, one of the biggest is renovations to the track area, said Ms. Lowry, who oversees the athletics programs. Already, the changes have been visible in the new fencing around the track area. The school also plans to refurbish the track and field, concession stand and the ticket booth. “These improvements are long overdue, and North Staf-ford welcomes it,” said track coach Andy Miller. In addition to the track renovations, the physical educa-tion department is seeking new mechanical curtains to be placed in the gym. While some of the changes will not take effect until next year, meaning seniors will miss out, students expressed ex-citement about the improvements. “I’m proud that my school is changing for the better,” said freshman Michael Johnson.

2 • the north star • april 2013

North Stafford facilities get much-needed facelift

By Abel OwusuContributing Writer

At North Stafford High School this year, many new things have been happening. The building has benefited from several improvements and additions recently, with other programs expecting renovations or new equipment to be approved in the near future. Assistant principal Dan Hornick confirmed that over the summer the stage in the auditorium was refurbished and

student life

Recent renovations to the school included a new fence surrounding the track and football field.

Phot

o by E

than

Betts


EDITORS IN CHIEFZack Preston

and Darnell Parker

SPORTS EDITORJacob Phillabaum

ENTERTAINMENT EDITORJay Woodson

LAYOUT EDITORTyler Hank

ADVISORBen Sellers

The North Star is an open forum for student expression of the student body of North Stafford High School. Editorials represent the opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of North Stafford High School, its admin-istration or staff. Signed letters to the editor may be submitted to room 213 or e-mailed to [email protected]. The North Star reserves the right to refuse any advertise-ments or to edit any submis-sions at our editorial discretion.

STAFF WRITERS Arissa Alley, Dhantly AndersonBrianna Brown, Shawn Hank,

Salinna Lor, J.D. Meyers, Siona Peterous, Kyle Ripper,

Emily Setser, Alex Sosik, Ian Butler, Nathan Parkhurst

THENORTH STAR

April 2013Volume XXXI Issue IV

North Stafford High School839 Garrisonville Road

Stafford, VA 22554540-658-6150

CONTRIBUTORSEthan Betts, Moses Frisby, Jake

Hoioos, James Mott, Abel Owusu, Sophia Perkins, Torie Schranz, Niala Weeks, Tiffany Womble

student life

Resch receives merit scholarship

Academic excellence is always encour-aged here at North Stafford High School, and recently one student has been recog-nized for achieving such a high level of superbness. On Feb. 19, senior Matt Resch received a certificate from Mr. Nichols that notified him of his status as a National Merit Finalist. “When I took the PSAT my junior year, I got a score that identified me as one of 55,000 ‘high scorers’ across the country,” Resch said. That number that was later narrowed down to 17,000 semifinalist, which was still based on the PSAT score. “I then had to write two essays and submit my aca-demic and extracurricular information, like a college application, to be considered for the finalist status,” he added. Of those 17,000 semifinalists, approx-imately 16,000 finalists were selected. “As a finalist I technically haven’t earned any National Merit Scholarship money yet,” Resch said, “but I am in consideration for a $2,500 award.” Should a finalist inform the National

Merit Scholarship Corporation that a school is his or her top choice, the school often will offer scholarships to the finalist. “The University of Kentucky, which I will be attending in the fall, offers a full-ride scholarship to finalists. But because I have already accepted a scholarship there, Kentucky will provide a $2,000 supple-ment to the scholarship that I have already accepted, which is unrelated to the nation-al merit,” Resch said. Most importantly, Resch is excited that he has a lot of room to explore. “I have such a wide range of interests that I really have little idea what I want to study,” he said. “Now I have the financial breathing room to take that elective class that I might be interested in.” He also expressed gratitude to those who helped guide him along the way. “It has been a blessing to get as much support as I have from the administration and guidance at North; they have been very interested in my success.” Needless to say, the future is looking bright for Resch and he continues to help uphold the solid reputation of superior academic excellence at North Stafford.

Matt Resch’s financial freedom will let him explore options at Kentucky.

By Alex SosikStaff Writer

Phot

o by A

lex S

osik

student life


Physical education teacher John Pierce received a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to Super Bowl XLVII in February from Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith. Mr. Pierce works at Stafford Senior High School but makes the long trek to North Stafford for fourth block adaptive P.E. He and his brother Roger (the current athletic director at Brooke Point High School) helped coach Smith during the superstar’s high

school career at Stafford. “Something that most people don’t know about Torrey is that he is so down-to-earth! He’s such a great guy. He’s pretty laid back and reserved,” said Mr. Pierce. Pierce had plenty more gems like that one. For example, not everyone knows that Smith was a quarterback in high school and did not become a wide receiver until he went to the University of Maryland. Or that he graduated ear-ly from both high school and college. “He was a straight-A student,” said Mr. Pierce. Pierce said he has known Smith

since the latter was in middle school. “I used to give him rides to school. We also used to go fishing together. It was so much fun.” He also mentioned the challenges Torrey Smith faced growing up. As the oldest of seven kids, Smith had to help his mother raise his siblings. When the Ravens took on the San Francisco 49ers in this year’s Super Bowl, Smith finally got to return the favor for all the rides and early support that Mr. Pierce had offered him. “I felt very special that Torrey Smith chose me to go the game,” Mr. Pierce gushed. “I honestly cannot believe the Tor-rey took the time to invite me, and not just too any game, the Super Bowl.” In addition to the all-expenses-paid trip, Smith also invited Pierce to attend the after-party, where many celebri-ties were partying right alongside the adaptive P.E. teacher. Mr. Pierce said he was particularly impressed by New Orleans’ Mercedes–Benz Superdome, which hosted the Super Bowl. “The place was just huge. It was about the size of North Stafford except it was four stories,” he said. Smith has been known for his generosity to others as well. His Torrey Smith Foundation raises money for families in abusive situations, and in some areas around Virginia, he takes two people from each school and gives them equipment. Along with Under Armor, Smith also donated brand new football uni-forms to his alma mater, Stafford, last season. “Torrey Smith turned out to be a great friend. He still takes time to talk to me,” said Mr. Pierce. “If I had a son, I’d want it to be Torrey,” he added.

P.E. teacher Mr. Pierce enjoys V.I.P. treatment at Super Bowl

By Emily Setser and Salinna Lor

Staff Writers

Photo courtesy of Mr. Pierce

Ravens wide receiver—and Stafford alumnus—Torrey Smith poses with P.E. teacher Mr. Pierce in the end zone of the Superdome.

student life


Interact Club takes service projects to the next level

Interact Club members gather in the library to discuss projects.

Photo by Torie Schranz

By Zack PrestonEditor-in-Chief

Of the many clubs at North Staf-ford, only one pledges not to eat for 30 hours by going to a pizza restaurant. That is the Interact Club. Led by Michael Forder, the school’s instructional technology resource teacher, the Interact Club is the high school arm of Rotary, an international community service organization. Already this year, the Interact Club has done several community service projects. Earlier in the year, the club facilitated the school-supply drive, along with the food drive. The food collected from the food drive was sent to help Micah Ecumenical Ministries, a regional homeless shelter. The club also helped organize the Red Cross blood drive. Students in the club, of course, did not draw blood for the drive; they facilitated and provided staff positions for the drive. On Thursday, Feb. 28, the group participated in a fundraiser at CiCi’s Pizza. Leaving your receipt from your

meal in the designated container give World Vision 12 percent of the pro-ceeds. World Vision is an organization dedicated to helping combat poverty and injustice around the world. While such a generous deed may have been enough for some clubs, the Interact Club took it a step farther. During the fundraiser, members of the club pledged not to eat for 30 hours by signing a paper after they purchased their food. The purpose of the “30 hour famine” event was to raise aware-ness of hunger around the world. The Interact Club also helped coordinate the school’s annual Special Olympics basketball tournament on March 16. Every year, Special Olym-pians from across the state come to North Stafford to participate in the Virginia Special Olympics basketball championships. The all-day tourna-ment consisted of two brackets, with seven teams in each. Twenty volunteers from the club helped with the event through the day, as well as the hundreds of people who showed up to cheer on the teams.

“This is one of our favorite events to take part in,” said Mr. Forder. The Interact Club has meetings on Wednesdays in the library, starting right after school ends. The meetings are fairly brief, about 15 to 30 minutes. At the meetings, the students of the club and Mr. Forder touch base on any current community service projects. These projects are chosen by the students and, for the most part, are coordinated in their own time. The club currently has about 20 members, and any student can join by showing up to the meetings and seeing if they are interested in the club. If they decide that they are interested in join-ing, they just need to give Mr. Forder the $5 club dues and some contact information. The club is very flexible when it comes to working around sports and other clubs. In addition to offering community service experiences, the Interact Club also offers different scholarship oppor-tunities. Those interested in the club and its scholarship opportunities can show up at a club meeting, right after school on a Wednesday and ask Mr. Forder for details.

Mr. Forder signs his pledge for the ‘30 hour famine.’

Photo by Zack Preston

opinion


Security is no small matter

In organizing the event, which they hoped would be the first in a series, the Sheriff ’s Office wanted teachers and administrators to take away the knowledge of a pre-attack plan. They wanted teachers to walk away knowing that there is a way to be prepared for an active shooter emergency. Making North Stafford a safer place for students and staffulty is at the top of the priority list. An installation of more cameras has made tracking movement in the school much easier. But cameras aren’t always reliable and to monitor the safety of North, which is why we have three security guards and Deputy Jason Hierwarter. The Wolverine security team said stu-dents should feel confident enough to talk to the administration if they see or think something is suspicious. In an effort to make students realize the security team is on their side, Paul Krull, a security guard at the school, actually talks to the students. Mr. Krull said he remembers names, schedules and extracurriculars to make it easier to talk to students. The security team also monitors the areas where they believe trouble will occur. “It’s and everyday effort to

ensure the school’s safety,” said security guard Denice Hart. “We patrol more often, check the cameras and doors constantly, and are just more aware of what’s going on around the school,” Ms. Hart said. Many seem unaware of the addi-tional security measures put in place, while others were relieved when they realized the precautions being taken to make sure the was safe. Increased patrols and visibility around in schools may be only a small part of the puzzle, but in the wake of recent tragedies it’s helped vulnerable, concerned students, staff and parents move beyond the fear of danger. “It brought peace of mind,” said senior Rhiannon McBride. Students need to realize that we can help. We can question what doesn’t seem right and make the administra-tion aware. We can stop propping open locked doors. We can be more aware. According to Deputy Hierwarter, mental preparedness means “we should always keep our eyes open and never get to tied into a daily routine.” Noticing something that is unusual around school is such a minor detail, but could possibly protect us all.

The days following the Sandy Hook shooting on Dec. 14 was like 9/11 for schools nationwide. Many were in shock—and still are. Many are still mourning the lives that were lost. Keeping this in mind, step back for a moment and imagine it hap-pened at your school, to your family, to your friends, to your teachers. Just four months ago, a madman shot 20 defenseless children and six of their teachers in Newtown, Conn. They lost their lives in a school. Whether or not you choose to admit it, we spend more time at school than we do at home or with our friends. We consider our schools to be safe, but when some-thing as tragic as this happens, we are forced to re-evaluate what we consider to be safe. Sandy Hook Elementary could have been any school across the country. It could have happened anywhere. It could have happened at North Stafford. Since this tragedy, schools have been on edge—with good reason. There have been copycats and threats across the nation. Across America, police have arrested dozens of individuals who were plotting to attack schools. Schools from Maine to California have increased security, including here at North Stafford. As the months since the Sandy Hook shootings tick onward, though, the Stafford County Sheriff ’s Office de-cided it was time to be more pro-active in preparing for the unthinkable. In March, the Sheriff ’s Office held an active shooter emergency prepared-ness training session for educators to learn a lesson that may save lives. It encouraged teachers to think about more ways to protect their students—and themselves—from possible attacks like the one at Sandy Hook.

By Tyler HankStaff Writer

Photo by Alex SosikDeputy Hierwarter and security guard Ms. Hart are familiar parts of the school family, but they must also remain ever vigilant.

Students, staff must pitch in with mental preparedness to ensure school safety


opinion

The rise of the machines: How much tech is too much? In the past 10 years, American society at large has become enveloped in the digital age. It has served as a medium to connect people throughout various societies without any regard to how near or far they may be. The most exceptional use of these technological platforms—be it cell phones, texting, social networking, etc.—is most notably obvious and central among teenagers. For example, 41 percent of teens claim they are “ad-dicted” to their cell phones. The main reason for this is due to the simple fact that current teenagers (ages 13–19) have spent their formative years essen-tially entrenched in a technologically based society. These days, technology is complete-ly unavoidable. Not only is it used for one’s sheer entertainment or for solely social purposes, but education is increasingly being technologically focused. It is nearly impossible for a student in America to properly com-plete any assignment without the use of a computer. In fact, this trend of technological instruction is being passed down to younger and younger school children; a second grader being told to use the computer for homework? Not such a strange idea anymore. So has society gotten tired of it yet? More specifically- has the heart and soul of this new digital age gotten sim-ply annoyed? Is there an overwhelming nostalgia for a time unknown to us when the closest thing to texting was a quickly sent letter delivered to a mail-box, not an e–mail? Well, surprisingly, yes there is. According to the Huffington Post 43 percent of teenagers say they wish they

could manage to disconnect from the internet every now and then, while an-other 36 percent would like to go back to time “before Facebook.” Further-more, many teens (around 49 percent) still prefer the natural and evolutionary practice of face-to-face communication over virtual communication Regardless of one’s feelings toward technology, it is an undeniable fact that

American society is rapidly becom-ing a digital space where technology can grow and breed like a massive grapevine. This trend is mostly seen in teenagers, and while this reliance may be harmful in some ways, it is equally beneficial. Ultimately, it falls on each individ-ual to find the perfect balance in an increasingly digital driven world.

By Siona Peterous Staff Writer

Hannah Portell answers a poll with her phone in Mr. Sellers’ class.

Increasingly, technology is used in the class as well as at home.

Photo by Sophia Perkins


The Great Compromise THERE has long been a dispute

in families over what a teen’s first car should be. Teens themselves want fast, sleek and, most importantly, new cars, like the Lexus LFA (pictured on the front cover). Parents, on the other hand, want their child’s first car to be safe, cheap and, preferably, used. Here is The North Star’s guide to finding the right balance between the two extremes.

4. Honda CR-Z The latest automotive craze is electric-powered cars like the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, but the best is the Honda CR–Z. Cars like the Leaf and the Toyota Prius scream ugly and disgraceful, but the CR-Z from an appearance standpoint does not scream electric and looks like a modern car—a plus in anyone’s book.

3. Ford Focus ST The Blue Oval has done it again! This Ford hatch-back is already a hit here and abroad because of its fun and fast nature. Hot hatchbacks that are American-made are rarely—if ever—a hit throughout the globe, but this one is the exception to the rule. Hatchbacks are among the safest on the road, and this is one that everybody would enjoy a drive in.

5. Mini Cooper The classic British legend is back, now with a German flair as BMW owns the brand. The Cooper is famous for its rally and off-road heritage, but this new Mini has all the classic British character of the old Mini as well as German precision and quality. Its 181 horsepower can provide the fun every kid is looking for in a car, while the Cooper’s safety record is top-notch.

By Jacob Phillabaum Sports Editor

Parents and teenagers find common ground on best starter cars

Inside photos courtesy of Wikipedia


cover story

The Great Compromise

Top 5 for Teens5. Scion FR-S/ Subaru BRZ4. Ford F-150 SVT Raptor3. Dodge Dart2. Ford Mustang Shelby GT 5001. Chevrolet Corvette

Top 5 for Parents5. Subaru Impreza Outback Sport4. Volvo XC903. Chevrolet Cruze 2. Ford Fusion 1. Volkswagen GTI

1. Volkswagen GT I The classic hot-hatch is back and better than ever. This car is perfect for students, and parents would not mind their children driving in it. The fuel economy on the Golf GTI is outstanding with 33 miles per gallon on the highway—and it’s a top safe-ty pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. However, the GTI also has a 200 horsepower turbocharged engine to satisfy teen’s need for power and fun.

2. Chevrolet SS The new 2014 Chevy is from a land downunder. It is from the Aussie equiva-lent of Chevy, Holden. The SS will be a four-door with a V8 engine capable of producing 500 horsepower. Even though the SS will be coming out this fall, it is already look-ing to be a hit among the automotive community. It will be safe and fast—a great compromise for par-ents and students alike.

Parents and teenagers find common ground on best starter carsOn the cover:

Lexus LFA Photo by Moses Frisby

sports


More racing, no problem?

In 2014, the two main sportscar rac-ing series will merge into one big racing series called United Sportscar Racing. This leads to an important question: Is it good for America? Simply put, it comes down to an old saying by the founder of NASCAR, Bill France Sr. “Race on Sunday, sell on Monday.” The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and Grand-Am’s Rolex Sports Car Series both have racecars that follow this old principal in the racing community. ALMS has ties with the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. Both Le Mans prototypes, high-tech aerodynamic from factory teams like Audi and Toyota reach speeds well over 200 mph. Grand Touring-Endur-ance cars, or GTE for short, also join in on the fun with famous automakers such as Aston Martin, Ferrari, Porsche and Corvette battling for glory over the long, grueling 24-hour race. The problem is with the GTE class at Le Mans is the cars racing street counterparts cost well over the range of the majority of people and there is

By Jacob PhillabaumSports Editor

The Flying Lizard GTE Porsche and the Starworks LMP-2 HPD-03a square off head-to-head during the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France last June. Racing fans can expect to see more variety next year.

Merger of American and foreign auto series brings racing into unfamiliar territory

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

no real affordable cars racing. Now Grand-Am also has a form of proto-types called Daytona Prototypes named after the famed speedway in eastern Florida. Their GT class also has Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin. But different from ALMS, GTE class Grand-Am has Mustangs, Camaros and Mazdas racing to have an affordable alternative to the expensive exotics that are in the class. The new series will have five classes “P” for both the Daytona Prototypes and LMP-2 cars, plus the radical Del-tawing racer “PC” for Le Mans Pro-totype Challenge spec class. The two prototype classes will be joined by three GT classes, “GTLM” for Le Mans Spec GT cars, “GTD” for Grand-Am Spec GT (as well as the GTC Porsche GT3 racers) and, finally, “GX” for alternative technologies new to racing. The merger for a racing fan is going to be what they have always dreamed of—more racing on track and no longer having to decide what series to go to or even watch on television Back to the original question, the merger between the two series has a great potential that other makers could join the action, such as Alfa Romeo

bringing its 4C car to America after a long absence from the States. More variety means more competition, more teams and sponsors that would enter the big American market. The increased competition between American and foreign automakers, both on the racetrack and in the marketplace, is great for the Ameri-can economy. More focus on the GT classes equals more competition and therefore more money in the Ameri-can economy.


entertainment

By Jay WoodsonEntertainment Editor

On Feb. 20, Sony Computer Enter-tainment announced its most recent addition to the PlayStation franchise, the PlayStation 4. Andrew House, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, said the PlayStation as a console has evolved throughout the years and the new console would once again raise the bar on innovation. The goal was to devise a platform that enhances gaming experience with a console as simple as possible. There is much anticipation for the release of the new console. Already, it has received positive reviews and feedback from gamers and video game bloggers. But while Sony has announced a release date (around mid-October) and has pictures of the PS4 controller and other equipment

Controlling the game industryCan Sony’s new PlayStation 4 help it to dominate in the competition with Xbox?

Although Sony has released pictures of the new PS4 controller, complete with a share button, the console itself remains a mystery for now.

Photos courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment

featured on its website, it has yet to reveal to the public exactly what the new console will look like. What is known is that the PS4 aims to improve the social, gaming and entertainment aspects so that Sony can reach a high target audience. The new system is more in-depth, user-friendly and more sensitive to the needs of the players. Sony has made it a priority for the console to appeal to any type of gamer, whether family-friendly, casual, role-play or hardcore. One very impressive feature that is added to the new system is the “share” button on the controller. The button allows players to record their gameplay and upload data to the internet. This feature also allows players to stream their gameplay while others can either watch or give advice. There remains the question of how Sony plans to outdo Microsoft’s

Xbox 36o and its new successor, the Xbox 720, which is set to be released a month after the PS4. After the PS3 was released, Sony watched the system thrive but still receive a fraction of the attention that gamers gave to the 360. With much acclaim and buzz on the PS4, though, Sony might give Micro-soft a run for its money.

A camera is one of the features that Sony is including on the PS4 to make it more interactive.

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reviews


Taylor Swift came out with her fourth studio album, Red, last year on Oct. 22. This is thought to be one of her more vibrant albums to date, considering all the viewers, purchases and replays. The lead single, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” was a definite victory for Swift. This single made it to the tops of the iTunes chart all over the world. It sold 623,000 copies in

the first week, becoming the first song of the one-time country starlet ever to make Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart. Opening at No. 72, the song quickly escalated to No. 1 on the Billboards, and kept its place for three weeks. Her third single, “I Knew You Were Trouble,” became another of Swift’s best-charting singles in both the U.K. and the U.S. The album Red sold 1.2 million cop-ies in only the first week in the U.S. and made it to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, giving Swift the second highest debut for a female artist. Another astonishing accomplish-ment by Taylor Swift is that Red spent 15 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart. This album alone sold 1.89 million copies in its first three weeks. Red had also sold 4 million copies in the U.S. and almost 5.4 million copies world-wide as of January 2013.

—Tiffany Womble

Grammy nominated R&B singer Keyshia Cole has successfully made four albums already. Her newest installment, Woman to Woman, was released Nov. 19 by Geffen Records. The album sold 96,000 copies world-wide in the first week, debuting at No. 10 on the Billboards. Cole is a true songwriter and singer. Her No. 1 track from the album that has garnered a lot of airtime is called “Enough of No Love” and features an appearance by Lil Wayne. In addition, the album features notable artists such as Meek Mill and Ashanti. This album has much emotion put into play. Cole took the everyday lives of women and the good and bad that they endure. She put all that she is into yet another one of her albums, and it is inevitable that she will have more to come.

—Niala Weeks

Taylor Swift’s ‘Red’ Keyshia Cole’s

‘Woman to Woman’

Imagine Dragons’ ‘Night Visions’

The alternative album Night Visions by Imagine Dragons came out on Sept. 4, 2012, but the Imagine Dragons (De-luxe) came out Feb. 12. It features new songs such as, “Hear Me,”, Every Night,” “My Fault,” “Round and Round,” “The River,” “America” and “Selene.” The song suggests themes such as the underdog rising up and defeating the successful and corrupt ruler. The most popular song on this album is titled “Radioactive” and has subtle undertones of rebellion. Another highlight, “It’s Time,” is a song about growing up and moving on, but always staying true to who you are.

—Sophia Perkins

reviews


Jack the Giant Slayer is a movie about the famous story of “Jack and the Beanstalk.” However, unlike in most traditional tellings of the tale, in this version (itself a remake of a 1960s movie) there is a battle between a race of giants and the humans. It starts off introducing the main characters, Jack and Isabelle, at a young age. The movie forwards 10 years, where we see Jack (Nicholas Hoult) trying to sell his horse and cart in the castle forecourt. We also see Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson) as she is trying to elude her protective duty and run away from an arranged marriage. Jack is given magic beans by a monk and is told to protect them and not to get them wet. He returns home, where his uncle is upset that he did not get money for the horse to fix the roof. While on the run, Isabelle comes across Jack’s house. One of the beans falls beneath the house and gets wet, causing a stalk to rapidly grow, carry-ing the house and Isabelle into the sky but leaving Jack behind. The plot of the movie was well written and interestingly constructed, due to several plot twists that were not predictable. Hoult’s portrayal of Jack as a fearless hero thrown into uncertain circum-stances was very good, and the up-and-coming actor pulls it off with ease. Likewise,Tomlinson’s performance as Isabelle was a perfect match to Hoult’s Jack. The two actors had definite chem-istry on screen. Jack the Giant Slayer is aimed to bring in a family-friendly audience. The movie was edited in such a way that there was no blood shown; how-ever there was moderate violence. The scenery was beautiful and very well-constructed. The lighting and the

‘Jack’ is a giant thriller

sounds were great, and the costume design was extravagant. Jack the Giant Slayer was rated PG–13 for intense scenes of fantasy action, moderate violence, some frightening

images and brief language. Overall, the movie was very good compared to other present releases. I recommend seeing it with younger siblings or cousins.

By Kyle RipperStaff Writer

Over the past few months, the box office has experienced a slew of thriller movies. Side Effects happens to be included among that list. With cast members such as Cather-ine Zeta–Jones, Channing Tatum and Jude Law, this movie follows Emily (Rooney Mara), a wife whose hus-band (Tatum) has been recently been released from prison. All the while, the anti-anxiety medication prescribed by Emily’s psychiatrist(Law) leaves her

experiencing unusual, and potentially fatal side effects. Side Effects may not be No. 1 at the box office, but it sure is not a disappointment either. This movie is for those who like to ponder on one’s human psyche and vague foreboding. Also, when major actors like Channing Tatum take the back seat in a film, rising actors such as Rooney Mara get their chance to step into the spotlight.

—Alex Sosik

Strong supporting cast yields good ‘Side Effects’

Rooney Mara shines in her role as a wife coping with depression.

Nicholas Hoult shows a promising career in ‘Jack the Giant Slayer.’

sports


Track and Field puts its best foot forward The weather is warmer, the flow-ers are blooming, and the students are running. Spring Track season has finally arrived and it brought a large sense of gusto along. Spring Track and Field is a com-petitive sport that includes numerous athletic competitions centered around running, jumping and throwing. “I’m really looking forward to it,” said junior Simrin Singh, a long-dis-tance runner. “I’m just not looking forward to the heat at all!” The North Stafford track team is projected to have a strong season this year, said junior long-distance runner Brianne Hart. “I think this season will be just as

good if not better as the last one, as long as everyone tries their hardest and puts forth their best effort.” Hart said.. Although snow days and other disruptions have posed challenges for the runners in staying conditioned, the team has already had two track meets.

The four-by-four relay team even came in second on the Wednesday before break. But there is still plenty more to go, freshman Charles Wells said. “We have all season to improve, and I’m really excited,” Wells said.

Distance runner Alex O’Carroll keeps pace as Coach Quinn times.

Phot

o by J

ames

Mot

t

By Emily Setser Staff Writer

the national championship. All fans of college basketball know that predicting the outcome of the tournament is like predicting the weather. So many upsets have become a part of the game that it is nearly impossible to accurately predict the entire tournament. And while former Cinderella stories George Mason and VCU were nowhere to be seen in the later rounds of the Big Dance this year, the tour-nament was not without its share of thrills and surprises. Several underdog teams kept fans on the edge of their seats, such as Florida Gulf Coast University, a 15th-seeded team from out of no-where that breezed into the Sweet 16. Even No. 1 seed Louisville made fans feel like it was an underdog with the heartfelt play of Kevin Ware, who suffered a horrific broken leg in an Elite Eight matchup with Duke. Despite the unpredictability, brack-ets, in which people try to predict the outcome of the tournament, are why

Every basketball fan worships this month of March as the college basket-ball tournament begins and the top 64 teams in the nation all fight it out for

By Nathan ParkhustStaff Writer

March Madness comes to North StaffordStudents get swept up in frenzy of tournament brackets and other excitement

Students in Scott Kozlowski’s sports medicine class recently filled out NCAA brackets.

many have turned into March Mad-ness fans. Brackets give people the interaction and added investment to watch and keep up with it. The brackets have become such an important part of Mach Mad-ness tradition that some fans feel it’s mandatory just to fill one out and brag with their friends about who got more right. Brackets have even made their way into schools as students begin debates over which team is better and who should win it all. Every year, there is one game that everyone watches or hears about and is the talk in most conversations. This is honestly why people love it so much—and who can blame them? Who wouldn’t want to watch a live event that so many people are counting on, whether you’re a player or have money riding on it? It just adds to the excitement that has overtaken the third month of the calendar year, which will always be known as March Madness.

Photo by Tyler Hank

sports


Lacrosse guarantees a successful season

Before lacrosse coach Fred Donahoe even had a roster for the 2013 team, he knew who the team leaders would be. They are senior Alex Boyd, junior Cheney Talbert, senior Clay Hubbard and junior Chris Woodard. Two games into the season, these leaders expressed a very optimistic opinion of the team this year. “North Stafford lacrosse will win the district,” said Boyd. He didn’t only say it; he guaranteed it. Although the team now has a few losses under its belt, so far, the attitude from the team leaders has been conta-gious. They won their first two games, shut ting down James Monroe on March 14 and beating Stafford High on March 21, both times with double-dig-it leads. But the real competition came on March 22 when they faced off against district rival Colonial Forge. The game against the undefeated Forge proved a heartbreaking 6–7 loss in overtime.

Girls soccer sets big goals

The boys went on to defeat Moun-tain View on March 26, but again lost to Western Albemarle, a non-district opponent, over break. The results of their April 10 match against Brook Point were unavailable at press time. Both Woodard and Hubbard agreed with Boyd that the year would be great. They lost some great players but gained a lot of young guys who were ready to step up, which is all the team and the coach can ask. The group has the type of depth that is needed to make a run for best team in the district. Not only are the offense and defense good, but, Woodard said, the team as a whole has “matured since my freshman year.” The players have more trust on the field and can rely on each other to step up and perform when it’s a close game or when there is an intense moment. North Stafford has a promising spring season to look forward to, and lacrosse is sure to give a pleasing show. “Failure will not be accepted,” said Boyd. With that mentality, there is nothing they can’t do.

The girls soccer season is getting under way. With returning seniors Quincy Slora and Caitlin Hite leading the way, the girls have some pretty grounded goals. They want to take the season game by game as they look for a district title and hope for a regional and state title. The team is extremely young, with only a handful of seniors returning and not much veteran leadership. The team has about three freshmen, but overall the seniors feel as if this team is ripe with potential. Slora, a forward on the team, said her goal for this year is to get back to 100 percent due to a horrible torn meniscus in her knee, which has made her sit out for a period of time, but she is on the upside feeling that she can “perform better” knowing this is her last year and every senior wants to go out with a bang. Freshman Micayla Hellerstedt said she is “happy to be on the team,” and her goals are to be a contributing member of the team by scoring goals and trying to get to playoffs. The girls agreed that another goal this year is defeating the two biggest rivals, Mountain View and Colonial Forge. The team usually splits games with two rivals. meaning we win at home and so do they.

By Shawn HankStaff Writer

The lacrosse team has a newfound maturity and drive this year.Photo by Shawn Hank

By J.D. Meyers Staff Writer


Elvis is back! I’m sure you are all wondering why Elvis has returned in order to entertain us during lunch—he is the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” after all. And what is this All Shook Up play even about? All Shook Up, which runs Thursday, April 11 through Saturday, April 13, is an adap-tation of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night that features all Elvis Presley music. As Johnetta Cook, one of North Stafford High School’s drama teachers, described it, “If Grease, Footloose, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Elvis had a baby, this would be it.” The play centers on a Mid-western town that suddenly is introduced to a mysterious, leather-jacket-wearing, motorcycle-riding roust-about, who completely turns the entire town on its head. Featuring the immor-tal themes of love and romance while also overcoming oppressive parents,

coming out of your shell, cross-dressing and more, this play will have you dancing in your seats and singing at the top of your lungs.

When Cook was in gradu-ate school, the very last show she saw was Chris D’Arien-zo’s Rock of Ages. Her entire experience was fun. “At that moment,” said Cook, “I knew I wanted fun.” The actors, including Cameron Cozzens, Baylee Perry, Garrett McPherson and Tayandra Allen have all been working hard since they were cast in the roles in January. Since being cast back in December, the cast has been working on average until about 6 o’clock at night during the weekdays. The last two weeks they have stayed until 9:30pm. They have even given up parts of their Saturdays in order to practice for the play.

Yet, “they never complain and are super excited,” Cook said.

Some readers may be-wondering, “Why would

I want to come to this? I have never

come to a school

play

in my en-

tire life.” There is just one simple

reason: If you don’t, you will miss one amazing show.

Cameron Cozzens

stars as an Elvis-like

roustabout.

If music be the food of love,

rock on! The King and The Bard join forces for ‘All Shook Up’

By Torie Schranz Contributing Writer

Photos by Jake Hoioos Courtesy of yearbook

April 2013

Documents

Transcript of April 2013