Guns

By Cody Boteler

Recently, President Barack Obama signed 23 executive orders in an effort to curb gun violence. Opponents to the orders believe that they will restrict the Second Amendment – or else start the country on a path that will. This is not the case, however. Here is a brief description of the 23 orders President Obama recently enacted:

The Silver Patriot Café

By Carm Saimbre

Making its debut at TJ this year, The Silver Patriot Café is held during all lunch shifts on the last Friday of every month for staff members, courtesy of the Learning for Life program. Taught by Mrs. Roberts and Mrs. O’Sullivan, Learning for Life is a program dedicated to students with severe disabilities.

So how exactly did The Silver Patriot Café come to be?

Snowhere to be Found

By Sean Dennis

(image from flickr)

“Farmers’ Almanacs predict cold winter for East,” read an article headline on washingtonnewspost.com from earlier this year. Unfortunately, that headline is hard to believe when it’s in the mid-sixties outside in January. After last year’s disappointing lack of snow,

we’re all ready to get blasted but it doesn’t seem like the snow is coming just yet from the looks of things now.

Student Profile: Airon Dakhulezt

By Claire Scott

$20,000 dollars. That’s enough cash to fund your whole college education (or half a year of college at a really expensive school), or a used Ferris wheel! With $20,000, you could buy about 400,000 pieces of gum! If you chew one piece of gum a day, that is enough gum for 1,095 years.  What could be more fantastic than almost half a million sticks of gum? How about winning the nationwide Poetry Out Loud contest that offers up twenty thousand dollars to its winner!

Poetry Out Loud, a contest for students in grades nine through twelve, invites students to recite and perform poetry; the best performance wins. Contestants are judged on a multitude of merits: accuracy, voice and articulation, physical presence and dramatic appropriateness.  While many teenagers love poetry, they do not think it is cool to share their interest, humor, or connection – out loud. That $20,000 cash prize though, like Harry Potter under his invisibility cloak, usually makes that concern disappear .

Airon Dakhulezt, a Junior at TJ, moved one step closer to this fabulous prize on January 4, 2013, when he beat out students from all of the other Frederick County schools in county competition.

Senioritis

By Jasmine Pelaez

“It’s a miracle I even made it to school today,” Senior Will Holtzinger admitted, “I dread it every morning.”

Around this time of year, a majority of high school seniors develop senioritis: an illness that inevitably results in lack of motivation, tardiness and complete disregard for all school subjects. Senioritis inhibits the day-to-day moods of almost all seniors, who, at this point, could care less about their high school responsibilities.

Stress Busters!

By Bridget Leonard

(image c/o heavenlyhands2heal.com)

Test time at TJ is like taking medicine when you are sick: nobody likes it and nobody wants it, but it’s necessary for progress. Not only that, but like medicine, the tests been known to cause side effects — the side effects from final exams can include headaches, drowsiness and even a little bit of nausea (to name a few).

Musician of the Month: Ryan Kieft

By Ukeme Anwana

This December’s musician of the month is senior, Ryan Kieft. After going through a grueling audition process, Kieft was selected to be a member of the elite, U.S. Army All-American Marching Band of 2013. He performed during halftime of the Army All-American Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on January 5, 2013. 

When Kieft found out in mid-July that he was selected for this prestigious opportunity, his reaction was typical. “I was very excited!” he said.

This aspiring band teacher admits he has not been alone in his endeavor. “My family has been really supportive,” said Kieft, and, he added they are “very happy [for me].”

Kieft’s love for music all began in 4th grade. He first tried his hand at playing the trumpet, but during 6th grade, he switched to the baritone. That is when he knew the baritone was the perfect instrument for him. 

Music is such a part of him now and he tries to communicate his passion with everyone. It is, Kieft said, the “ultimate form of expression;” and it’s all about “connecting with your audience.” As a member of the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, he will have great opportunitiy to do just that.

The Nostalgia Club

By Claire Scott

There I was, in Ms. Welty’s tenth grade English class, watching It’s a Wonderful Life on the last day of school before Christmas break. Everyone in class was content and completely absorbed in the movie. When the scene at the dance came up, and all of the characters started doing the Charleston, the classroom roared with laughter and cries of excitement.

Here’s a Bell, There’s a Bell

By Carm Saimbre 

(image courtesy of slumathcsclub.wordpress.com)

Fun fact: a total of nine bells ring during third block. That’s right – as if hearing the bell a few times a day was not enough to drive everyone crazy, we get to hear that familiar buzz a whopping nine times in one class period. Excessive much?

Great Scott!

By Sean Dennis

Mr. Rippeon is probably one of the most unusual men on the face of the earth.Fortunately, this is also one of his most loved qualities, as illustrated by Junior Megan Fruend, who said, “Mr. Rippeon in insane and I like it!”