SHS_Warrior_proof (1)
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
theWarrior
47th Year, Issue No. 1 October 31, 2024
Sherwood High School: 300 Olney Sandy Spring Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860
www.thewarrioronline.com
English Department Curbs Phones
by Katie Ng ‘25
The English Department has implemented
a new phone policy for the 2024-
25 school year. Students are now expected
to put their phones, earbuds, and other
electronic devices in their bags, and put
their bags in designated areas at the start of
class after the teacher outlines what materials
they need for the period. No other department
at Sherwood has a uniform policy
on phones during class instruction.
With the new phone policy in place,
English teachers are seeing improvements
to the classroom environment. English
teacher Elizabeth Kominski had her doubts
about the phone policy at first, but now she
sees the policy paying off. “I see the difference
in their attention spans. I find the
majority of kids really focusing on the content,”
said Kominski.
English teacher Ashley Graham-Bell
notices her students are interacting with
each other and participating in the classroom.
“Students are not self-isolating and
alienating themselves from each other [because
they are looking at their phones],”
said Graham-Bell.
According to the English Department’s
policy, students who repeatedly use their
phones during class will face consequences.
The first time a student has their phone
out during instruction, they will receive a
verbal warning from the teacher. The second
time they have their phone out during
instruction, they will receive a lunch detention,
and the teacher will enter the infraction
Student-made App Offers Students Way To Voice Concerns
many hours into the final product.
Pending final approval to allow
access across MCPS schools,
Praneel hopes the app sets an
example for what each and evby
Zach Geller ‘25
Closed bathrooms are no
strange sight to Sherwood students,
but rounding the corner at
the start of the 2024-25 year, a
team of student software developers
is making an app to counteract
issues like these, enabling students
to report school-wide issues
across MCPS. Ripple is an app
for students to report problems in
their individual schools.
The hope for Ripple is to
give students a voice and hold
MCPS accountable for providing
the best schools it can. “I think it
could help bridge the communication
gap between students and
admin, and help improve student
experiences by providing data
on the small issues that students
have,” said new SMOB Praneel
Suvarna.
Once opened on either
see PHONES, pg 4
Cliff Vacin ‘25
Phones remain in backpacks in front of English teacher Ashley Graham-Bell’s classroom.
chromebooks or phones, Ripple
gives students a map of the county
and a list of reports they can
make. These reports are customized
for each school to better reflect
issues that may be specific to
each school. The possible reports
can include anything from locked
bathrooms, missing menstrual
products, nonfunctional water
fountains, broken infrastructure,
and anything else staff members
see as an issue.
If a student hypothetically
spots a locked bathroom, they
may select their MCPS school,
click on the “Closed Bathrooms”
issue, and then type in the room
number nearest to the problem
and voilá. Their anonymous report
is submitted and may be seen
by teachers, staff, and even the
principal. The map is also updated
to show the issue in that particular
school.
“We’re able to pull this data,
send it to (MCPS) Central Office,
and then they can start taking action,”
explained lead developer
Pranav Karthikeyan, a senior at
Poolesville. He believes Ripple
will act as a more efficient and
timely alternative to the end-ofyear
surveys students fill out, as
it eliminates the need to comb
through questions that don’t
apply to the individual and go
straight for the prevalent issues.
Pranav is a part of a team of
three, made up of two students
from Poolesville HS and one
from Clarksburg HS. The group,
who met SMOB Praneel through
a robotics team, spent a combined
400-500 hours developing Ripple
over the summer. They said that
being students was an advantage
for them, allowing them to log so
MCPS Cuts Virtual Academy from
Budget and Increases Class Sizes
by Evelyn San Miguel ‘26
MCPS has reduced the budget for the
2024-25 school year, cutting programs
like the Virtual Academy, increasing class
sizes, and delaying the expansion of the
pre-kindergarten program. The cuts come
as a result of losses in pandemic relief
funds and also a $30 million shortfall of
the Board of Education’s funding request.
As the 2024-25 school year crept closer,
MCPS faced the pressing issue of how
to compensate for a financial loss from
the Elementary and Secondary School
Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund as a part
of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security (CARES) Act, passed by
Congress at the start of the pandemic.
This loss of funds, combined with receiving
around $30 million less than what
it requested for approval by the Montgomery
County Council, led MCPS to cut the
Virtual Academy. Facing pushback over
the closure, Superintendent Thomas Taylor
proposed the expansion of more hybrid-learning
opportunities, though stated
that reopening the virtual school was “not
an option.’’
As a result of tighter staffing, increased
class sizes have posed difficulties
for teachers as more students translates to
larger workload. Schools have been forced
to accommodate larger classes, and as operating
costs have risen, administrators
and school boards have to tackle the question
of which programs need to be cut.
MCPS in the 2022-23 school year
What’s Inside: News 1-5, Opinions 6-8, Pulse 9, Spotlight 10-11, Humor 12-13,
Entertainment 14-17, Sports18-20
alone saw the resignation of more than 635
teachers in core subjects, including English,
Special Education, Art, and Music.
The county has been forced to make up for
staff shortages, compensating for the unintended
consequences of the pandemic with
enlarged classes and cut programs.
MCEA Sherwood Representative
Glenn Miller discussed the budget cuts
with Sherwood staff. “There was a lot of
anxiety about what those cuts would do,”
said Miller. Many staff have reported increased
class sizes and a need for further
support through hiring more teachers, but
that has been unable to happen “because
we aren’t given the staffing [in the budget].”
From what he has been told from
staff, the trends for class sizes are impacting
mostly core classes, with many teachers
“seeing upwards of 30 to 34 [students
per class].”
The toll of larger classes on teachers
is an emotional one. “When class sizes increase
something has to give,” said Christine
McKeldin, the head of the social studies
department. McKeldin spoke of her
own experiences juggling multiple roles
at once in her job and at home, where the
question became whether to do less for her
students, her family, or herself.
Among herself and her colleagues,
McKeldin said that the eventual choice was
to sacrifice the time spent for themselves.
“If I wanted to give individual attention to
my students” remarked McKeldin, “they
could each have less than 90 seconds.”
Zach Geller ‘25
SMOB Survarna endorses new app, Ripple, available on App Store.
ery MCPS student is capable of:
“Any student who has a solution
to an MCPS problem should
reach out. We’re ready to hear
them!”
Spotlight
Read about the 2024 Presidential
Election.
Pages 10-11
Sports
Read about how the fall season has
been going so far.
Pages 18-20
2
The Warrior • News
October 31, 2024
TikTok Sued for Mental
Health Damage to Teens
by Josh Pulaski ‘25
TikTok is being sued by 13 different states plus DC under
the claims that TikTok’s core design is constructed in
such a way as to addict young children and teens deliberately.
The states’ attorney generals allege that the TikTok
company has been untruthful about the risks of the app to
the public. TikTok has claimed that the accusations from the
state officials are false or misleading, according to TikTok
spokesperson Alex Haurek. He added that the company remains
active in safeguarding children and works diligently
to protect teens from potential dangers.
Internal communications and documents from TikTok
executives that are central to the lawsuit have been leaked to
the media. According to NPR, “the portions of the suit that
were redacted, highlight TikTok executives speaking candidly
about a host of dangers for children. The material is
mostly summaries of internal studies and communications.”
According to NPR, TikTok officials responded that
“this complaint cherry-picks misleading quotes and takes
outdated documents out of context to misrepresent our commitment
to community safety.”
MD Requires ELA Proficiency
Test for Third Grade
by Lilly Mains ‘25
Maryland is poised to join more than 25 states that require
third graders to demonstrate proficiency in reading and writing
skills to advance to the fourth grade. Third graders who are not
deemed as on track for reading at a fourth-grade level will be
held back one year.
This is a part of Maryland’s aggressive new goals to boost
literacy and student achievement for the state. Maryland ranks
40th for National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
achievement and is aiming to raise their ranking to the top 10 by
2027. According to Maryland’s Department of Education, students
in grades K-three would be screened three times throughout
the year to identify those who need supplemental reading
instruction, at which point students who are struggling would
receive extra attention including before and after school tutoring
from reading specialists in an effort to help them improve
skills such as reading comprehension, phonics, and vocabulary.
To better prepare teachers to handle the change, the policy
would call for professional development which will be free
for the staff as part of the ‘science of reading’ program. The
U.S. Department of Education has allocated $149 million to
improve literacy programs across 23 states, and Maryland received
a grant of 90.3 million dollars over the next five years
from this allocation to help fund literacy proficiency initiatives
for young students.
MCPS Implements New
Hate/Bias Response
by Katie Ng ‘25
MCPS has introduced new procedures for reporting
and responding to hate-bias incidents, which MCPS considers
as “any disruptive conduct (oral, written, graphic,
physical, or electronic communication) that includes intentional
discriminatory behavior based on personal characteristics.”
MCPS will now respond to hate-bias incidents using
a tiered system that consists of three levels based on intent,
impact on school community, and criminal elements: level
red, orange, and yellow incidents.
Level red and orange incidents are both serious incidents
in which schools will contact the police. Level red incidents
likely involve criminal offenses, require contacting
involved students’ parents, and warrant sending a community
letter. Level orange incidents may potentially impact the
school community, which may warrant sending out a letter,
but criminal elements are unlikely. Level yellow incidents
are not serious incidents or considered hate-bias. They are
handled through the Student Code of Conduct.
MCPS has made these adjustments due to an increase in
hate-bias incidents. According to Moco360 and The Washington
Post, from 2022 to 2023, these incidents increased
by 200 percent, and 61 percent of the incidents reported
were school-related. Many reports involved race; religion,
including antisemitism; gender identity; and sexuality.
Students wrote messages on a poster dedicated to Sanaa Vil, who died in a car accident on October 2.
Community Grieves Death of Student
On October 2, the Sherwood
community was shaken by a car
accident which took the life of
senior Sanaa Vil and injured
two other students. Sanaa was a
star basketball player and active
member of the Black Student
Union, beloved by students and
teachers alike. This terrible tragedy
was recognized by the school
with a moment of silence held
during announcements along with
a memorial organized by the SGA
where students decorated Sanaa’s
parking spot with flowers, stuffed
animals, and posters.
In devastating moments like
these the hope is that the community
is able to come together
to support each other. The tributes
and remembrances continued
at school-wide events with
the football game on October
10 featuring a blackout theme
with red ribbons with Sanaa’s
basketball jersey number, #24,
handed out at the gate. A poster
with sticky notes featuring pictures
and thoughtful words was
also present at the game accompanied
by red cups on one of the
stadium fences spelling out LLS
[Long Live Sanaa] 24. The obvious
focus on Sanaa at this game
showcased students’ commitment
to honoring her memory and ensuring
she got the recognition she
deserved.
Support was also extended
to the Vil family along with the
families of the other students involved
in the accident. Other people
in the community set up multiple
GoFundMe and meal trains
pages to aid the grieving families
in their time of need. Condolences
also poured in from across the
community, including the principal
of Good Counsel High School
in an email to Principal Timothy
Britton, offering their support in
the wake of the loss.
Cliff Vacin ‘25
Sherwood also offered support
to students with one school
based counselor and one member
of the MCPS crisis response
team in each senior English class
the day following the accident
to aid students in processing the
traumatic events that took place.
The College and Career Center
was also opened up as a space for
students close to Sanaa to gather
and grieve together. The counseling
department made it clear
that they were there to help both
students and staff struggling with
what happened, providing a safe
haven for anyone who needed it.
Sanaa was born on April
16, 2007. She is survived by her
parents Jean and Arielle, and her
siblings Ruth, Joshua, Naomie,
and Hannah. As her family and
friends continue to grieve, Sanaa’s
memory will continue to inspire
and live on for all who knew
her.
MCPS Plans on Enhancing Security Measures
by Laurika Pich ‘27
As the first quarter of the
school year comes to an end,
MCPS school leaders are continuing
to explore new security
measures and policies in response
to increasing safety concerns. Incidents
have occurred in recent
years, including bomb threats,
student arrests for bringing guns
to school, and altercations at
football games. The recent high
school shooting in Georgia,
which resulted in the death of two
students and two teachers, has
intensified parent concerns even
further.
Montgomery County Police
Acting Assistant Chief David Mc-
Bain emphasizes the importance
of comprehensive safety measures.
Doing so would demonstrate
the goal to ensure safety
“inside the school, outside the
school, around the schools, and
obviously, to provide safe routes
to school,” commented McBain
in an interview with Moco 360.
This commitment is shared by
new Superintendent Thomas
Taylor, who has school safety in
MCPS as his “No. 1 priority.”
Taylor’s approach focuses on
improving emergency preparedness
through active communication
and collaboration. Marcus
Jones, serving as the head of security
and compliance for MCPS,
Google Images
is developing a culture that emphasizes
collective responsibility
in every faculty member and other
employee in maintaining a safe
environment, stating “We’re all
in this together.” In the process,
MCPS is developing enhanced
training for students and staff on
school safety procedures to ensure
that everyone is well-prepared
for potential emergencies.
At the beginning of October,
Sherwood students received new
expectations for a student-identification
program. MCPS has
mandated that all high schools
should adopt the program by November
2024 requiring staff and
students to wear IDs all day.
After students received their
school photo IDs for this school
year, Sherwood distributed lanyards
for students to attach their
IDs. “Students will be required to
have the ID with them at all times
[in school and during school
events],” said Principal Tim Britton.
“However, we are not requiring
the ID to be worn at all times.
We will not be checking IDs at
the door, but at any time security
and admin can ask for identification.”
This program aims to ensure
quick identification of individuals
on campus, enhancing the
overall safety climate.
In addition to the ID program,
MCPS is exploring new security
enhancements, consisting of refining
the system’s response to
bomb threats, blocking access to
social media on the MCPS network,
and launching a pilot program
to restrict cell phone use
during school hours. Utilizing
funds from a Juul Labs legal settlement
will help pay for vape detectors
in schools, although Britton
notes, “there are still glitches
being worked out with the product.”
While these upgrades are in
the preliminary stages, they represent
a significant change in how
MCPS schools address security.
The Warrior • News
October 31, 2024
AP Exams To Go Fully Digital
by Nisha Khatri ‘26
An increasing number of AP
exams are being moved to the
Bluebook digital testing application.
College Board states that
the new format is user-friendly,
improving the focus of students
and enabling them to write faster.
AP exams at Sherwood that will
be digital in May 2025 include
AP Comparative Gov, AP Environmental,
AP Human Geo, AP
Lang, AP Lit, AP Psych, and AP
Seminar.
Teachers at Sherwood are altering
their teaching methods to
better prepare students for their
AP exams. AP Lang teacher Lynnette
Evans-Williams, for example,
states that the English department
is making minor changes.
“During the second semester and
as AP Classroom rolls out their
prep for the Lang exam, we will
do more typing online and just
getting familiar with the interface
of Bluebook,” she explained.
This transition comes in part
because of the covid pandemic,
as AP exams quickly digitized.
School systems struggled to
maintain the educational system,
especially for those who did not
have reliable access to internet.
Exams such as AP Gov were put
online for the first time in 2020,
with this trend only accelerating.
Online tests come with some
disadvantages, however. According
to a study by the American
Google Images
Institutes for Research, students
who take tests online perform significantly
worse than those who
take tests on paper. Testing online
also removes the option of physical
annotations and handwritten
responses. AP Lit teacher Patty
Jasnow worries about “passive
reading and annotating since it’s
on the screen … [and] about tech
issues that occur mid-test.”
However, the process to improve
reading comprehension
remains the same. “Regardless
of what format test they take,
students who perform well have
practiced close reading strategies
and process of elimination strategies
extensively,” said Jasnow.
The new format also allows
students to utilize the line-reading
tool to enhance their focus when
reading lengthier passages. Further,
students tend to type faster
than they write by hand, and remaining
time is displayed directly
on each students’ device, enabling
them to manage time more
effectively.
College Board is presently
updating the layout of AP Classroom
to aid students in preparation
for their exams. According
to the College Board website,
AP Classroom has been renovated
to include new videos,
progress checks, topic questions,
and question banks. A round of
updates took place in July 2024,
with more coming throughout the
school year.
“I’m curious to see what AP
Classroom and the College Board
will push out to us as teachers as
far as supports to have students
transition to the digital exam,”
said Evans-Williams. “I anticipate
little hiccups will come
along, but overall I hope that it’s
a really smooth process.”
3
Bathrooms Remain Open
by Shannon Naas ‘26
To avoid a repeat of last
school year when there were often
closures of bathrooms during
the school year, the administration
is taking steps to prevent the
school from having to lock bathrooms
because of student misbehavior.
The measures include
closing bathrooms at certain
times of the school day, as well as
more frequently monitoring the
bathrooms.
“We have been doing a better
job of security and other staff
periodically checking those areas
and if we find students that are
hanging out and not using the facilities,
we immediately are moving
them out,” explained Principal
Tim Britton.
Thus far this school year,
there has been an improvement
from last year when as many as
five bathrooms were closed at
some point, according to Britton.
The decision to close bathrooms
last year, particularly in
the K-wing, resulted from several
factors including incidents
of vandalism as well as students
breaking toilet seats. Britton said
that occasionally there were some
students who were held accountable
but other times it was difficult
to identify the student doing
the damage to bathrooms.
In the most recent effort to
identify concerns about restrooms
or issues in the hallways, Security
Team Leader Dom Dixon has
placed QR codes inside various
display cases around the building.
Britton sent out information
to teachers, parents, and students
that the QR code will pull up a
Google survey form that will allow
the person to anonymously
identify a problem or issue. The
intention of this effort is to allow
for administration and security to
follow up more efficiently and if a
name(s) is provided, proper consequences
and better safety can
be accomplished.
Britton said that the school
put in a maintenance order with
MCPS “to have doors and gates
on all bathrooms so if something
would happen, we could temporarily
lock it down [for as long as
needed].” This would correct the
problem in past years when the
school had to use a bolted wood
plank to prevent entry to a closed
bathroom. For example, the boys
bathroom in the upper C-hall
was boarded up for nearly eight
months last school year.
Although there has been
overall improvement from last
school year, some problems
have persisted. In late September,
Britton emailed teachers that
staff bathrooms would be locked
because students were entering
them. He stated that teachers
should unlock and then again
lock the staff bathrooms when using
them.
The Warrior Thanks its
Wonderful Patrons...
To become a patron, donations can be made through SchoolCash
Online, available from the Sherwood High School website.
For a minimum donation of $25, you will support the efforts of 40
students on the 2024-25 newspaper staff. Throughout the school year,
The Warrior’s staff will publish over 500 articles in five print issues
and online articles. The Warrior prides itself in delievering local, state,
and national news directly to Sherwood’s classrooms. Stay apprised
of what is happening at Sherwood High School, as well as support the
efforts and enthusiasm of the students on The Warrior staff who make
The Warrior one of the best school newspapers in Maryland.
4
The Warrior • News
October 31, 2024
Student Trips Make an Exciting Comeback
by Rachel Themistokleous ‘26
Music teacher Emily Chu is
bringing back student travel trips,
with one to Disney World and
one to Ireland. Many years ago,
Sherwood was known for these
opportunities when it had an “International
Studies” signature
program. More recently, recently
retired French teacher John Falls
honored this tradition by taking
students to France, and now with
Chu taking the lead, student educational
trips are making a return.
Chu is organizing these trips
because she thinks it is beneficial
for students to travel. “Traveling
at this age is super important because
… it teaches you responsibility
and how to be an independent
person,” said Chu.
The trip to Disney World
will last five days, taking place
from March 20 to March 24. The
cost will be $1,300 per student,
and buses will transport students
there. This trip is strictly for students
in the music department,
and it was chosen due to its imagination
campus. Within this, students
will get to work with conductors
from Disney World to
expand their musical knowledge.
They will learn how to sight-read
music and create their own recordings
with what they learned.
Students will also get to enjoy the
parks and other activities Disney
Zach Geller ‘25
Music teacher Emily Chu is sponsoring trips to Disney World and Ireland.
has to offer.
The second trip to Ireland
is a part of the Education First
(EF) program run by a teacher
at Kennedy High School, who
does tours for this program often.
The invitation for this tour
was extended to Sherwood, and
Chu happily accepted. This trip
is open to anyone who wants to
join, will last nine days, and costs
$3,800. There is no set date for
the trip yet, but it is confirmed to
take place in late June and early
July. The EF program covers most
expenses, including hotel and
transportation costs. On the trip,
students will start by exploring
the capital city Dublin and then
branch out to other towns. They
will also have many opportunities
to attend tourist experiences
and see places such as the famous
Blarney Stone and numerous animal
sanctuaries.
Chu enjoyed traveling to different
places and gaining a new
perspective of the world as a kid.
“I’m in a place [when traveling]
where I don’t know anyone…
[and] I get to challenge myself to
explore different parts of myself,”
said Chu. She took this chance to
allow students to experience the
same opportunities she had, and
expand their understanding of the
world around them. She feels that
trips are also a good way to bond
as a community, while making
meaningful friendships and memories
one can carry with them for
the rest of their life.
Phones Restricted in Classes
from ENGLISH, pg. 1
into the Synergy Contact Log and
email the student’s parents. If the
student refuses to place their bag
in the designated area of the classroom
or they have their phone
out during instruction for a third
time, they will be referred to their
grade-level administrator.
English teacher Chris Lock
supports the policy as other efforts
to get students off their
phones were not working, and
she has noted that students are
spending more time completing
assignments during class time
now that they cannot have their
phones. But, she said that her English
classes of seniors are more
resistant to the phone policy, with
some “rolling their eyes” about
having to put their phones away.
The actions of the English Department
reflect a movement of
restrictions on phones in schools
across the United States. Some
schools only ban phones during
instruction, but permit them in
the hallways and at lunch. Other
schools require students to silent
their phones. A number of schools
have even purchased locking
pouches and require students to
place their phones in them at the
start of each school day.
A couple of high schools in
MCPS have school-wide bans on
phones in classes and are piloting
the phone pouches. MCPS’ personal
mobile device policy states
electronic devices are not permitted
during instructional time.
According to Assistant Principal
Tamara Jennings, Sherwood’s
policy mirrors MCPS’ policy, but
departments have their own discretion
in how they enforce this
policy.
School districts are restricting
phones in school because of
concerns that phones are a distraction
and disruption to the
learning environment. According
to the Washington Post, a study
from 2022 shows that not having
phones in the classroom can help
students learn, and a Pew Research
Center survey from 2023
shows 72 percent of high school
teachers reported phones were
distracting students.
“It puts the focus back on
student learning, which includes
collaborating with peers and the
teacher in an authentic manner,”
said Jennings about the English
Department’s phone policy. “Students’
undivided attention is given
to class instruction instead of
what’s going on in a text message,
TikTok, or Instagram. Teachers
have continuously voiced their
concerns about cell phone use
during instructional time. It is and
has been a concern.”
End of ‘50-Percent Rule’ Grade
May Improve Students’ Effort
by Deepika Shrestha ‘27
The Warrior • News
October 31, 2024
A new MCPS grading policy
for high school has gotten rid of
the so-called “50-percent rule” in
which students received an automatic
minimum 50 percent on
assignments even if they did not
do any work or turn in the assignment.
This school year, students
get a zero if they do not attempt
the assignment, do not turn it in
by the final deadline at interim
or the quarter, or put “minimal
effort” into it. The policy is set
in place for all subjects at Sherwood.
Schools around MCPS have
some discretion about how to
support students and help them
complete assignments and tests.
If Sherwood students are not
completing their assignments,
teachers should contact parents
and may set aside time for students
during class to complete assignments
or have them come at
lunch or an advisory period. Students
can also turn in assignments
after a five-day late deadline for
a grade of fifty percent, but they
can not turn it in after interims, or
the quarter.
Sherwood’s administration
and Instructional Leadership
Team looks at student grade data
at interims and at the end of quarters.
According to the school’s
Staff Development Teacher Sarah
Pruchniewski, the data from the
first interim indicated an increase
in the number Es, which she believes
could correlate with students’
attendance. Students with
chronically unexcused absences
are receiving zeros for missing
assignments and assessments
rather than an automatic 50 percent.
Health teacher Heather
Giovenco is in favor of the new
grading policy and thinks it prepares
students for life after high
school. She believes the “50-percent
rule” led students to believe
that in the real world doing the
bare minimum will be acceptable
for college and working jobs.
“The 50-percent rule teaches students
they can get credit for doing
nothing and minimal work
is good enough when in the real
world not doing more than fifty
percent gets you fired,” said
Giovenco. Giovenco has seen the
policy make kids more productive
to turn in work and keep their
grades up than in the past. “Students
are definitely more motivated
to get their grades up,” said
Giovenco.
Social studies teacher Scott
Allen has seen an increase in engagement
with students and also
from their parents if they see a
zero in the grade book rather than
a grade of 50 percent on an assignment.
“Parents seem to take
much greater notice when a Z or
zero shows up in the grade book
because it has a much larger impact
on a student’s grade than a
50 percent would,” said Allen.
New Superintendent Faces Challenges
by Audrey Farris ‘25
and Seph Fischer ‘25
Superintendent Thomas Taylor assumed the office on June 25, 2024.
Thomas Taylor, appointed
school superintendent on June
25, faces a daunting task. He
became the leader of MCPS at a
time when the nationally known
school district was in crisis following
the departure of former
Superintendent Monifa McKnight
amidst a litany of controversy
over her handling of the sexual
harassment allegations against
former Farquhar Middle School
principal Joel Beidleman. In the
wake of McKnight’s abrupt exit
as superintendent, Taylor’s ‘Entry
Plan’, as highlighted on the
MCPS website, includes efforts
to rebuild trust and transparency
in which MCPS improves communication
with parents, staff and
the broader community.
Additionally, highly publicized
incidents of bomb threats,
hate crimes, and fights have
alarmed many parents and raised
concerns about student safety.
“Our no. 1 priority is making sure
that our students, our staff and our
visitors have a safe, welcoming
and inclusive environment,” said
Taylor at a press briefing hosted
by County Executive Marc Elrich,
concerning rates of school
violence in MCPS. This, at least
on its surface, displays a marked
shift in emphasis from the McKnight
administration, which prided
itself on “expanding restorative
justice supports” to address
student behavior. Part of this refocus
includes the appointment of
Marcus Jones, former Montgomery
County Police Chief, to the
position of Department of Security
and Compliance chief. Under
Taylor’s leadership, MCPS also
has initiated new security measures,
such as requiring students
to wear or carry their school IDs
during school. However, other
suggested measures, including
vape detectors in bathrooms, thus
far lack details or implementation.
The new superintendent is attempting
to tackle complex issues
through his “E3” plan. Standing
for Engagement, Evaluation, and
Empowerment, the plan involved
first engaging with the community
through meetings and school
5
Google Images
visits, then evaluating what must
be done to fix important issues
facing the MCPS community and
drafting a new MCPS Strategic
Plan, and finally empowering
members of the MCPS community,
through frequent communication
with staff and families. An
interest survey compiled by the
new administration has revealed
to Taylor the top issues that need
to be addressed according to the
community. Lacking educator
support, poor student behavior,
and unnecessary administrative
hurdles for both educators and
families made the top of the list,
giving the new administration
clear data on the issues that most
concern MCPS families, students,
and staff.
December Issue:
6
The Warrior • Opinions
October 31, 2024
STAFF
Editor-in-Chief ........................................... Audrey Farris ‘25
Managing Print Editor ....................... Evelyn San Miguel ‘26
Managing Online Editor .................................... Ziv Golan ‘26
News ..................................................... Evelyn San Miguel ‘26
Opinions ............................... Seph Fischer ‘25, Cliff Vacin ‘25
Pulse ............................................................. Maya Dorsam ‘27
Spotlight ...................................................... Audrey Farris ‘25
Humor ........................................................ Declan Rooney ‘25
Entertainment ........ George Awkard ‘25, Jordan Costolo ‘25
Sports ................................Cara Farr ‘27, Andrew Fenner ‘27
Copy and Content
Director of Copy & Content ................................ Katie Ng ‘25
Copy and Content Editor ............................. Justin Lakso ‘25
Business and Social Media
Director of Social Media ............................ Declan Rooney ‘25
Director of Advertising ............................. Jordan Costolo ‘25
Photography
Photographers ..................... Cliff Vacin ‘25, Zach Geller ‘25
Nick Hammond ‘25
Matthew Leighton-Jones ‘25
Staff Writers
Taylor Adams ‘27, Madelyn Awwad ‘27, Lilah Boig ‘26,
Reid Duvall ‘27, Jack Engelhardt ‘25, Ryan Green ‘26,
Matilda Hawkins ‘27, Paloma Illanes ‘25, Nisha Khatri ‘26,
Isabella Landaverde ‘27, Miriam Lev ‘27, Emma Link ‘27,
Fiona Lipczenko ‘25, Aby Lo ‘26, Shannon Naas ‘26,
Laurika Pich ‘27, Josh Pulaski ‘25, Molly Schecter ‘27,
Deepika Shrestha ‘26, Chase Sondike ‘26,
Rachel Themistokleous ‘26
The Warrior serves as Sherwood’s news source,
receiving numerous state and national honors
over the 46 years it has been in circulation.
With a staff of 37 students under the guidance
of Peter Huck, The Warrior keeps the Sherwood
community informed about local and
national events. All opinion articles represent
the viewpoint of the writer.
The Warrior staff invites feedback and corrections
to printed inaccuracies.
The Warrior reserves the right to refuse advertisements
and other promotionals.
Taylor Must Focus on Students’ Priorities
Over the summer, MCPS welcomed
a fresh face in leadership:
Superintendent Thomas Taylor,
who replaced Monifa McKnight.
With a vision to elevate our educational
environment, he has
outlined goals that aim to foster
student achievement and community
engagement. However, it is
imperative that Taylor prioritizes
critical issues that threaten a
successful and supportive learning
environment: school safety,
maintenance of school buildings,
and county-wide access to mental
health support services. A safe,
well maintained school is as essential
to learning as it is creating
a healthier, more secure atmosphere
for everyone.
Threatening behavior and violence
in schools has become
an increasingly frequent occurrence
throughout the county. This
alarming rise should spark urgent
discussion about the underlying
causes of this violence, particularly
mental health issues among
students. To target the students’
safety directly, Taylor needs to
push for additional funding to
add more security personnel in
schools. On Sherwood’s website,
the staff page lists one Security
Leader and three Security Assistants,
which is clearly inadequate
at a high school with 1,700 students
in a building that often is
described as a maze. MCPS also
needs clearer protocol and staff
training on how to deal with incidents
of threats, bullying, and
fights. Ideally, conflicts between
by Miriam Lev ‘27
students can be identified and
de-escalated before they result in
violence. When a fight does occur,
however, it should be more
clear what are the consequences
for those students. When students
are sharing videos of a fight in
the hallways as if it is entertainment,
the administration should
counter with clear messaging
about unacceptable behavior in
a high school. MCPS also should
permit schools to punish students
for fighting and other threatening
behaviors. As the new superintendent,
Taylor should support an
approach in which there should
be mediation and counseling but
also disciplinary consequences
for actions that jeopardize students’
safety.
Students’ mental health is a
persistent issue throughout the
county and for years there have
been initiatives and policy changes
that have aimed to help provide
resources for struggling students.
These resources are long overdue
for an update, and they need to
focus on providing the student
with the most support possible
throughout their entire school
day, rather than just providing a
place for a student to ‘talk it out’.
Implementing a policy that allows
for a student to connect with
a counselor if they are struggling
and allows the student to work on
a plan with their counselor alongside
their teachers reduce the
toll that mental health struggles
have on motivation. It is crucial
that a student feels completely
supported by their school when
struggling; otherwise, they are
less likely to seek help. By prioritizing
mental health initiatives,
Taylor can foster a more compassionate
and supportive educational
atmosphere.
Building maintenance is another
serious issue that has impacted
schools across the county.
Dysfunctional bathrooms, dirty
classrooms, and lack of temperature
control are just some
of the issues commonplace at
Sherwood. Creating a policy that
would ensure frequent check-ins
on building maintenance in every
school in the county is the most
important step in ensuring safe,
clean, and functioning buildings.
Hiring more janitorial staff is also
necessary in order to maintain
an inviting and pleasant school
environment every single day.
Without a maintained building,
the atmosphere of a school is not
going to be supportive to students
and staff.
As Taylor settles into the pivotal
role of superintendent, it is
necessary that he prioritizes addressing
the intertwined issues of
student safety, mental health, and
building maintenance within our
schools. Efforts in these areas are
essential to an approach to education
that prioritizes the well-being
of every student, building a foundation
that fosters both safety and
learning, ensuring that all MCPS
schools become spaces where all
students can thrive.
Make Route 108 Safer for Students
Nearly all Sherwood students
use Route 108 as it is the
only way to get to and from
school. This includes cars, bikes,
buses, and walking. Before and
after school, 108 gets very congested,
increasing the risk to student
safety. The main problem
is that Route 108 does not have
sufficient sidewalks, crosswalks,
traffic flow, and speed cameras.
From Dr. Bird Road to Christopher’s
Garden Center there is
no sidewalk, and from there to
Sherwood Elementary there is
a small path but no sidewalk or
crosswalk, and from then on no
sidewalk or path at all until pedestrians
reach Norwood Rd. A
sidewalk for Sherwood Elementary
school should be constructed
because it is very dangerous
to walk on the grass on the edge
of the road. A crosswalk by Sherwood
Elementary should also
be added with flashing lights to
inform people there is someone
crossing. A stoplight by Christopher’s
Garden Center also will
help cars slow down and create
clear times for pedestrians to be
able to cross Route 108. A speed
camera should be added nearer
to Sherwood HS because it will
influence drivers to go slower.
On the west side of Sherwood,
a number of students live
behind 108 and walk to school
and these and other students also
frequently go to 7-11. A crosswalk
should be in place by 7-11
with flashing lights to inform
people there is someone crossing.
This area might be the ideal
location to add a speed camera.
Route 108 can be dangerous
due to heavy traffic flow and
the many new drivers using 108
to get to school. Traffic flow can
impact accidents because people
are in a rush and not paying
close attention. Only having one
stoplight near Sherwood can
cause people to drive too fast.
New drivers impose danger on
the road because they are not
as experienced, may be unsure
Cliff Vacin ‘25
of the traffic patterns, and may
speed or slow down erratically.
Statistics show that in Montgomery
County around 400
pedestrians are struck by vehicles
a year and that pedestrians
from the ages of 5-15 are at the
greatest risk for car-related injuries.
In 2022, three Montgomery
County students were hit by cars
while walking to school. Two of
the three students needed to be
hospitalized for their injuries.
The Sherwood school community
needs to come together
and advocate for additional
traffic lights and crosswalks at
intersections, as well as a speed
camera nearer to the school.
Each morning and afternoon,
hundreds of cars zoom in and
out of Sherwood’s parking lots.
It’s literally an accident waiting
to happen. Let’s make sure
that there isn’t also a tragedy.
The Warrior • Opinions
October 31, 2024
7
2024 Presidential Election
“I don’t like Kamala
personally. I don’t think
she’s very intelligent and I
was pleased with what Donald
Trump did when he was
in office.” (Trump)
If you could vote, who would you choose?
“Because there is only one
candidate that I think actually
has any sense of logic and
sense of reality.” (Harris)
“I don’t like either, Kamala
just sucks less.” (Harris)
“The culture around Donald
Trump and his party has
been muddled with racism
and bigotry.” (Harris)
“I would vote for Donald
Trump because I believe
he will bring our economy
back up and running from
the terrible economy we
have today. I also think that
when he was president,
that was the best economy
America has ever had and
there were no wars during
his presidency.” (Trump)
The Warrior surveyed 274 students
in grades 10-12 between
October 1 and October 8.
“I would vote for Harris
because I want a democracy
and value women’s rights.
Trump is a convicted felon
and sexual assaulter.”
(Harris)
“Both Kamala and Trump
don’t seem like they fit the
role of president.”
(Not interested)
“Less inflation, better wages
for blue collar workers, no
new wars for the first time
in 40 years, better border
control, etc.” (Trump)
“Because I don’t understand
politics so I don’t want to influence
it.” (Not interested)
“I’d vote for Kamala Harris
because she cares about
women’s reproductive rights
and she’s also passed lots
of laws to tackle climate
change already.” (Harris)
“Lowering taxes, giving
more food stamps, building
the wall, high wages in regular
pay jobs, lowering illegal
immigration.” (Trump)
“As much as I hate how
Kamala and the Democratic
Party says they care about
climate change but keeps
supporting fracking, Trump
is a threat to American democracy.”
(Harris)
“I would not vote because
I do not think either candidates
are fit to lead the
country.” (Not interested)
Math Grades Should Count
by Ziv Golan ‘26
MCPS implemented a new policy allowing for progress
checks to be given to all students taking non-AP math
classes with these tests accounting for 10 percent of the
student’s grade in quarters 1 and 3. This is a significant
change from previous years when these progress checks
were not factored into students’ final grades. This change
will push students to put more effort into actually understanding
the material they learned throughout the quarter.
Since MCPS got rid of final exams more than 10 years
ago, teachers across the county have complained of grade
inflation and a lack of effort from students. The implementation
of graded progress checks, created centrally
by MCPS, will force students to practice study skills and
demonstrate that they have proficiently learned the material
of the country curriculum. Students who do not take
AP classes have little idea of how to study or take any sort
of final exam but with this new policy, every student will
gain that experience once per semester. This non-retakeable
assessment will make it more difficult for students
to not focus in class and still pass by retaking everything.
Students need to develop core math skills to move on to
more advanced classes, and these tests will motivate students
to truly understand what they are learning.
Stop Cruel Executions
by Maya Dorsam ‘27
This year, the state of Alabama became the first to execute
prisoners on death row by means of nitrogen hypoxia.
The method comprises inmates wearing a masked device
covering their face from forehead to chin, depriving
them of oxygen by 100 percent nitrogen. After the technique
was conducted on two inmates, Eugene Miller on
September 26 and Kenneth Smith in January, the results
prove it is inherently unconstitutional.
Observers noted that Smith frantically and violently
thrashed on the gurney as he heaved for several minutes,
but defenders of the method quickly claimed that these reactions
were a result of a combination of Smith’s attempts
to hold his breath and oxygen leaking into the mask. Later
this year, however, Miller suffered the same effects of continued
shaking for minutes on end and gasping for breath
during the time leading up to his death. Under the Eighth
Amendment, all citizens are protected against cruel and
unusual punishment, and this form of execution is clearly
excruciating. United Nations Human Rights experts agree
by calling the method nothing short of torture, and they
point out that death by nitrogen hypoxia has been proven
to cause suffering to animals. This method of execution
causes a horrible and tortuous death and must be stopped.
What New ID Policy?
by Paloma Illanes ‘25
MCPS recently mandated a policy for students to wear
their IDs at all times. If teachers or security at Sherwood
ask students in the hallway for a form of identification, it’s
expected they have one present. MCPS implemented this
rule vaguely, with little explanation as to why it’ll work,
or what its intentions are. On September 30, Principal Tim
Britton announced the new policy to Sherwood students.
Teachers distributed lanyards as Britton introduced expectations
for students to visibly wear IDs. However, Britton
shared in the same message that if preferred, students can
have their IDs on their person instead. As a result of the
lack of urgency and clarity about the policy, there is no
guarantee students will follow this mandate.
Theoretically, the policy has admirable intentions for
better ensuring school safety. However, very few, if any,
students are seen in Sherwood’s hallways with lanyards
around their necks, and there has been no mention of consequences
for students not having IDs with them during
the school day. If students were given clearer reasons and
incentives for wearing their IDs, more of them may have
been compliant. Instead, the situation with student IDs
remains nearly exactly the same as it was before Britton
announced the new policy.
8
On September 4, 14-year-old
Colt Gray entered his high school
in Winder, Georgia, and opened
fire with an assault rifle, killing
four and injuring a handful of others.
Colin Gray, Colt’s father and
an alleged drug addict, bought
Colt the gun as a Christmas present
in 2023. Just a year before the
shooting took place, Colt was investigated
by police after the FBI
received tips about online threats
the teen made about shooting up
a school. Colin Gray was indicted
on 29 counts, including two
counts of second-degree murder
and two counts of involuntary
manslaughter stemming from his
involvement in allowing his troubled
son access to the firearm.
This is a small price to pay for
the terrible hurt his negligence
caused, but it’s a step in the right
direction of stopping adolescents
from having access to guns.
In May of 2023, the police
interviewed a then 13-year-old
Colt Gray regarding anonymous
tips the FBI received about threats
to commit a school shooting the
teen had made online. They questioned
his father as well, who said
that there were hunting rifles in
the house, but Colt didn’t have
The Warrior • Opinions
October 31, 2024
Punish Parents and Hold States Accountable for Gun Violence
by Andrew Fenner ‘27
unsupervised access to them.
Even with all this information,
the sheriffs let the boy go. Despite
the evidence suggesting the
teen was not in the right mental
state to have access to a weapon,
let alone a rifle, his father bought
him a firearm just a few months
later. The father, though not explicitly
helping Colt carry out his
shooting, played a big role in allowing
it to happen. There’s little
solace to be found in this tragedy,
but the father’s arrest and potential
conviction is an important
course of action to prevent these
school shootings in the future.
A trial in Michigan earlier
this year resulted in the conviction
of the parents of the teenage
shooter who killed four students
at Oxford High School. The convictions
of Ethan Crumbley’s parents
made them the first parents to
be charged in a mass shooting in
the United States, and they eventually
were convicted for four
counts of involuntary manslaughter.
Colin Gray’s trial will be only
the second time that the parents
of a school shooter are charged in
relation to their negligence.
Parents who don’t keep guns
safely away from the adolescent
children should be held criminally
responsible. However, what
about the states that refuse to insist
that parents are responsible
gun owners? The state of Georgia
is one of the states with the
weakest gun laws, ranked #46 in
its gun law strength, according to
a CBS article. The fact that Gray,
who is a drug addict by all accounts,
would be able to pass the
background checks necessary to
obtain a firearm is startling. This
incident serves as a sign that great
by Lilah Boig ‘26
reforms need to be made to make
guns harder to obtain.
Secure storage laws have
been implemented in 26 states
to prevent tragedies like those in
Oxford and Winder from happening.
These laws legally require
gun owners to lock up their firearms
to prevent them from getting
into the hands of unsupervised
children and young adolescents.
In households that lock their
Psychology Brings Purpose
by Nick Hammond ‘25
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
Jennifer and James Crumbley, parents of Ethan Crumbley, Oxford High School shooter, were convicted of manslaughter.
firearms and ammunition, unintentional
gun violence among
children dropped 85 percent. The
state of Georgia is unsurprisingly
not among the states that have
passed these laws. Irresponsible
parents--and also state governors
and legislators--should not get
away with the role they play in
the scourge of gun violence in the
United States.
As a senior with a full-day
schedule, many classes can feel
monotonous, pointlessly difficult
or easy, or simply annoying.
While I do come to school to
learn, some classes like Calculus
have mostly failed to prove significant
real world applications of
the material, even in a class called
Calculus with Applications. Especially
as I transition to college
- focusing more on my hobbies,
interests, extracurriculars, and
college applications - basic class
content has become even less
enticing. However, one class has
retained and even piqued my interest:
AP Psychology.
I’ve finally found the perfect
class for me: one which is both
challenging, and also directly impacts
my own life. Further, taking
this class this year has also led
me to realizing the value of classes
beyond grades, credits, and
test scores. When schools provide
students with more of these
kinds of courses and relate them
to meaningful things in one’s life,
we become more driven, interested,
and overall just have a better
educational experience.
In my generation, it feels numerous
students have lost track
of the point of actually coming
to school in the first place. While
many still put great effort into their
work and show up consistently,
they may do it due to internal and
external pressures to achieve and
be perceived as capable. However,
the thing that should be most
prioritized is to learn. To learn
well; to learn deeply. To learn in
ways that will benefit everybody:
ourselves, each other, and our
world as a whole.
While our classes strive to
teach students skills and knowledge
that will allow them to be
successful, we need more application
of that information to
one’s personal life, as well as the
state of our entire current society.
For instance, even in our county’s
‘Honors’ classes, I have myself
perceived how often critical
thinking is forgotten as a priority.
Many test questions ask what
is basically common sense, and
written responses often funnel
students into one predetermined
perspective without so much
as allowing us to draw our own
conclusions on things such as the
impacts of history. Yet I’ve long
felt that there is still a drastic gap
in difficulty between Honors and
AP classes, often not allowing
something for students who are
seeking something more than the
base level without a huge jump in
homework and stress.
But these perspectives of
mine have been challenged by
AP Psych. It certainly isn’t a class
without required homework,
preparation, and effort. But to me
it all feels worthwhile. Being able
to learn about the inner workings
and fundamentals which make
up all of us translates to thinking
about and applying the content
out of class, and actually has enabled
me to approach and understand
my decisions from a new
perspective.
Now, I’m not sure I’ll actually
pursue a career in Psychology.
Even so, I can see how much a
greater understanding of psychological
fundamentals and more
applicable, truly interesting learning
is important to incorporate in
our schools. When it feels like
high school is simply an obstacle
in place to move towards college
or a job, classes like AP Psych
help remind me of its value.
The Warrior • Pulse
October 31, 2024
9
The Pulse
FAVORITE TREATS
For this edition, we took a look at the student body’s
favorite things about fall and Halloween. We asked
students to share their fears, traditions, and more.
Do you still trick-or-treat?
Do you like pumpkin spice?
FAVORITE TRADITIONS
My mom makes us mummy dogs and my
grandma makes feet-loaf before we go out with
friends.
-Madeleine Baron ‘27
FAVORITE MOVIES AND SHOWS
My family and I order candy and watch scary
movies together on Halloween.
-Aiden Kincaid ‘25
I like dressing up in a costume, trick or treating,
and carving pumpkins. I also like going to the
pumpkin patch.
-Claire Bergesen ‘27
Having a dinner before Halloween with all of
my friends!
-Ava Ortega ‘28
BIGGEST FEARS
MOST POPULAR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
Trump’s top issue in his campaign is stopping the influx
of immigrants into America. He has stated in his campaign
that illegal immigrants are “poisoning our country”
by bringing in deadly drugs and creating high rates of
migrant crime. Trump promises that if he wins he will “seal
the border” and begin the largest deportation program
in American history.
During Harris’ time as vice president, she expressed support
for those attempting to immigrate legally and criticized
Trump for killing a bipartisan border bill that would
have introduced new border restrictions and funding.
According to her campaign website, she claims that she
will “fix our broken immigration system.”
Trump’s most consistent stance is that the legality of abortion
should be up to the states. He has not addressed
whether he supports the 20 or more states that have
severely restricted or banned access to legal abortions
since the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court ruling. Trump
stated in the presidential debate that he would veto a
national abortion ban. According to his campaign website,
he states he will oppose late-term abortion while
supporting policies that advance prenatal care, access
to birth control, and IVF.
One of Harris’s top issues in her campaign is her promise
to defend women’s reproductive rights, which she
argues that “Trump’s Supreme Court” has curtailed. She
has attacked states with abortion bans that she says put
women’s health at risk. Harris guarantees that if Congress
passes a bill to restore reproductive rights nationwide, as
president she will sign it into law.
Harris supports many of the Biden Administration’s policies,
including infrastructure and renewable energy
spending. Harris intends to ban price gouging as well as
increase taxes for corporations and Americans making
over $400,000 a year. Some of the regulations Harris intends
to implement include capping credit card late
fees, raising the federal minimum wage, and building affordable
housing units.
Trump plans to cut taxes and enact more tariffs, similar to
promises during his first presidency. Trump has embraced
protectionism, putting tariffs in place in his first term and
starting a trade war with China. If president again, he
has promised to extend his 2017 Tax Law that increased
the tax deductions for large corporations and wealthy
individuals.
Trump has denied climate science and has belittled types
of renewable energy, opting for unlimited production of
fossil fuels. After rolling back more than 100 environmental
regulations during his first presidency, Trump pledges
to further rescind “every one” of Biden’s electricity and
electric vehicle regulations. He has not called for policies
to help communities prepare for natural disasters, rather
blaming “poor management” over climate change.
Harris supports the Biden administration’s general approach
to the climate, supporting renewable energy
and encouraging related programs. However, she has
voiced that she doesn’t support an electric vehicle
mandate and no longer supports a fracking ban. Harris
adopted “environmental justice,” where environmental
programs are set to be focused on low-income communities
and communities with large numbers of people of
color.
Trump has held anti-immigration stances throughout his
first term and intends to prevent any future World Wars,
along with “restoring” peace in Europe and the Middle
East. In regard to strengthening the United States, Trump
proposes a missile defense system for the United States
and building up the military. Trump holds an “America
First” ideology, stating that the United States must always
put U.S. priorities and interests first.
When discussing international policy, Harris stated that
she would “stand with our allies, stand up to dictators,
and lead on the world stage.” In regard to the Israel-Hamas
conflict, Harris has said that Israel should defend
itself, but she also encourages a two-state solution.
Harris has also made her support for Ukraine clear.
Trump’s pick is J.D. Vance, a senator from Ohio. Vance
is an outspoken conservative whose messages frequently
revolve around preserving conservative family values.
Vance first became well known as the author of the
memoir Hillbilly Elegy, and Trump picked Vance in part
to appeal to working-class voters who are essential to
winning battleground states in the so-called Rust Belt.
Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running
mate. Viewed as more progressive than Harris, he may
appeal to both younger left-leaning voters and also older
moderates in battleground states like Wisconsin and
Michigan. During his time as governor, he cut taxes for
working families and protected women’s reproductive
rights. Their campaign promises with Walz’s background
as a teacher and member of the military, the Harris-Walz
ticket will continue to defend the working class.
IMMIGRATION
ABORTION
ECONOMY
CLIMATE
INTERNATIONAL POLICY
VP
Artificial Intelligence, also known as
AI, is improving so fast that many are
concerned that it could have serious and
unpredictable effects on the presidential
race and election. There have been examples
over the past six months of AI being
used to create fake photos and spread
false information to influence the election.
AI deep fakes are very easily accessible
and they are likely impacting the
2024 election. In January, fake robocalls
in New Hampshire used an AI-generated
impersonation of President Biden’s voice
to urge Democrats not to vote in the
state’s primary. In July of 2023, a super
PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
in the GOP primary used AI to imitate
Trump’s voice in an ad attacking him.
At least 25 states have passed regulations
against election deep fakes, but federal
action remains largely delayed. Senators
have offered two bills to address the
issue, but they have not been taken up
in a vote. The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) has made it illegal
for robocalls to use AI-generated voices
during election campaigns. The ruling
gives state attorney generals the ability to
take action against callers using AI voice
cloning tech.
Experts are worried about other countries
using AI to interfere in the U.S.
presidential election. One example is that
U.S. operatives found out that Chinese
and Iranian use AI to create fake videos
and audios. Although the operatives never
disseminated the deep fake audio or
video publicly, the previously unreported
intelligence demonstrates concerns U.S.
officials had already four years ago about
the willingness of foreign powers to put
out false information about the voting
process.
Another concern is that AI will be used
to try to disenfranchise voters by sending
out misleading or false information about
how to vote in the presidential election.
According to an article published by the
Brennan Center for Justice, “Generative
AI introduces the possibility of more sophisticated
methods of deception, capable
of being deployed more cheaply and
swiftly on a wider scale. AI’s persuasive
potential may increase over time as current
technological limitations are quickly
surpassed and different forms of AI are
coalesced in new ways.”
AI Deep Fakes Raise Worries
About Election Interference
by Aby Lo ‘26
Maryland’s Senate seat is up for grabs
this November after Senator Ben Cardin
(D) retired after 50 years of service.
Maryland is a staunchly democratic state
that President Joe Biden won by 33 points
in 2020. Despite this, the race to replace
Cardin between Angela Alsobrooks (D)
and former Governor Larry Hogan (R)
remains exceedingly close. A Hogan victory
will have massive, nationwide consequences,
as it could hand Republicans a
critical lead in the Senate. In late September,
polling from The Washington Post
showed Alsobrooks leading Hogan 51
percent to 40 percent among likely voters,
but Hogan is competitive among the
state’s Independent voters and has relatively
strong favorability with a decent
percentage of Democratic voters.
Hogan served as Governor for eight
years and was popular despite being a
Republican in a staunchly democratic
state. Hogan’s popularity among Democrats
can be explained by his more centrist
positions. Unlike many of his fellow
Republicans, Hogan no longer endorses
Trump since the January 6 Insurrection.
Hogan is more liberal on a number of
key issues, such as instituting a comparatively
harsh Covid lockdown in 2020 and
vowing to be a “pro-abortion Senator.”
Hogan’s optics are also starkly different
from most Republicans, being seen smiling
and taking pictures with parade-goers
at a LGBTQ+ Pride Parade this June.
Despite his more moderate views, Hogan
still supports many conservative economic
policies.
Alsobrooks is the current Prince
George’s County Executive and has occupied
that position for six years. She, like
Vice President Kamala Harris, served as
a former prosecutor, serving eight years
as Prince George’s State Attorney, during
which time she oversaw a 50-percent
decline in crime rates. Alsobrooks is a
standard Democrat when it comes to her
views, and she will join her party’s block
of votes in Congress, making her more
favorable to voters who want the Senate
to remain in Democratic control.
Hogan’s stance as a moderate has kept
the race as close as it is. Even though he
still has a long way to go if he wants to
pull off the upset, many media reports
state that they can’t yet rule out Hogan
becoming a Republican senator from the
“blue state” of Maryland.
by Declan Rooney ‘25
Alsobrooks and Hogan Senate
Race Remains Competative
This past July the presidential race was
completely shaken up when President
Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential
race and endorsed Vice President Kamala
Harris. Since then Harris has built up her
campaign, becoming the official nominee
for the Democratic Party in August.
With the introduction of Harris as the new
Democratic nominee, many hoped that she
would be able to turn around many groups
that had previously been resistant to a second
Biden term.
This change in voter enthusiasm has
seemed to coalesce in younger voters who
support Harris in far greater numbers compared
to Biden, according to polls. A US
News/Generation Lab survey conducted
between August 25 and September 3 indicates
a 30-point lead for Harris among voters
18-34 in multiple swing states including
Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada,
Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, compared
to an 18-point lead Biden held in the same
poll after the first presidential debate in
June.
Harris has made youth appeal a focus of
her campaign, utilizing social media trends
to appeal to younger voters. The Harris
campaign, nicknamed “Kamala HQ” on
social media, has a presence on TikTok
and Instagram among other platforms.
The campaign regularly posts videos using
dances, slang, and music popular among
Harris Gains Traction
Among Young Voters
by Ziv Golan‘26
Gen Z. The campaign has used music from
well-known artists such as Taylor Swift and
Chappell Roan, showing younger voters
that they are in touch with trends and want
to engage them with the campaign. The
Harris campaign has also embraced meme
culture, something that no modern presidential
campaign has really done before.
Memes such as the “coconut tree,” which
is a soundbite of one of Harris’s speeches
that went viral, have been used by the
campaign on TikTok. This excites younger
voters, showing them that politics don’t always
have to be overly serious. The Harris
team hopes that the presence on social media
will serve as outreach to teenagers who
will be able to vote in the not-so-distant future.
By doing this the campaign is trying
to show teens that they are focused on the
future and encouraging them to register to
vote, something they can do at age 16.
This effort from the Harris campaign has
gained endorsements from well-known
public figures such as Swift, who has encouraged
her fans to register to vote. This
has added to the momentum of the Harris
campaign, as well as an increase in voter
registration from young adults. In the immediate
days following her endorsement,
more than 400,000 people visited the government-run
voter information site that
she put in her post with the battleground
state of Wisconsin reporting an increase of
1,300 new voters.
HOW CLOSELY HAVE YOU BEEN
FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION?
WHAT POLICY ISSUES ARE MOST
IMPORTANT TO YOU?
KAMALA
DONALD
TRUMP
2024
PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION
HARRIS
KAMALA
DONALD
TRUMP
TRUMP
Poll data gathered from a survey of 247
10-12 graders the week of October 1-8
by Lilah Boig ‘26 and Cliff Vacin ‘25
Trump’s top issue in his campaign is stopping the influx
of immigrants into America. He has stated in his campaign
that illegal immigrants are “poisoning our country”
by bringing in deadly drugs and creating high rates of
migrant crime. Trump promises that if he wins he will “seal
the border” and begin the largest deportation program
in American history.
During Harris’ time as vice president, she expressed support
for those attempting to immigrate legally and criticized
Trump for killing a bipartisan border bill that would
have introduced new border restrictions and funding.
According to her campaign website, she claims that she
will “fix our broken immigration system.”
Trump’s most consistent stance is that the legality of abortion
should be up to the states. He has not addressed
whether he supports the 20 or more states that have
severely restricted or banned access to legal abortions
since the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court ruling. Trump
stated in the presidential debate that he would veto a
national abortion ban. According to his campaign website,
he states he will oppose late-term abortion while
supporting policies that advance prenatal care, access
to birth control, and IVF.
One of Harris’s top issues in her campaign is her promise
to defend women’s reproductive rights, which she
argues that “Trump’s Supreme Court” has curtailed. She
has attacked states with abortion bans that she says put
women’s health at risk. Harris guarantees that if Congress
passes a bill to restore reproductive rights nationwide, as
president she will sign it into law.
Harris supports many of the Biden Administration’s policies,
including infrastructure and renewable energy
spending. Harris intends to ban price gouging as well as
increase taxes for corporations and Americans making
over $400,000 a year. Some of the regulations Harris intends
to implement include capping credit card late
fees, raising the federal minimum wage, and building affordable
housing units.
Trump plans to cut taxes and enact more tariffs, similar to
promises during his first presidency. Trump has embraced
protectionism, putting tariffs in place in his first term and
starting a trade war with China. If president again, he
has promised to extend his 2017 Tax Law that increased
the tax deductions for large corporations and wealthy
individuals.
Trump has denied climate science and has belittled types
of renewable energy, opting for unlimited production of
fossil fuels. After rolling back more than 100 environmental
regulations during his first presidency, Trump pledges
to further rescind “every one” of Biden’s electricity and
electric vehicle regulations. He has not called for policies
to help communities prepare for natural disasters, rather
blaming “poor management” over climate change.
Harris supports the Biden administration’s general approach
to the climate, supporting renewable energy
and encouraging related programs. However, she has
voiced that she doesn’t support an electric vehicle
mandate and no longer supports a fracking ban. Harris
adopted “environmental justice,” where environmental
programs are set to be focused on low-income communities
and communities with large numbers of people of
color.
Trump has held anti-immigration stances throughout his
first term and intends to prevent any future World Wars,
along with “restoring” peace in Europe and the Middle
East. In regard to strengthening the United States, Trump
proposes a missile defense system for the United States
and building up the military. Trump holds an “America
First” ideology, stating that the United States must always
put U.S. priorities and interests first.
When discussing international policy, Harris stated that
she would “stand with our allies, stand up to dictators,
and lead on the world stage.” In regard to the Israel-Hamas
conflict, Harris has said that Israel should defend
itself, but she also encourages a two-state solution.
Harris has also made her support for Ukraine clear.
Trump’s pick is J.D. Vance, a senator from Ohio. Vance
is an outspoken conservative whose messages frequently
revolve around preserving conservative family values.
Vance first became well known as the author of the
memoir Hillbilly Elegy, and Trump picked Vance in part
to appeal to working-class voters who are essential to
winning battleground states in the so-called Rust Belt.
Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running
mate. Viewed as more progressive than Harris, he may
appeal to both younger left-leaning voters and also older
moderates in battleground states like Wisconsin and
Michigan. During his time as governor, he cut taxes for
working families and protected women’s reproductive
rights. Their campaign promises with Walz’s background
as a teacher and member of the military, the Harris-Walz
ticket will continue to defend the working class.
IMMIGRATION
ABORTION
ECONOMY
CLIMATE
INTERNATIONAL POLICY
VP
Artificial Intelligence, also known as
AI, is improving so fast that many are
concerned that it could have serious and
unpredictable effects on the presidential
race and election. There have been examples
over the past six months of AI being
used to create fake photos and spread
false information to influence the election.
AI deep fakes are very easily accessible
and they are likely impacting the
2024 election. In January, fake robocalls
in New Hampshire used an AI-generated
impersonation of President Biden’s voice
to urge Democrats not to vote in the
state’s primary. In July of 2023, a super
PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
in the GOP primary used AI to imitate
Trump’s voice in an ad attacking him.
At least 25 states have passed regulations
against election deep fakes, but federal
action remains largely delayed. Senators
have offered two bills to address the
issue, but they have not been taken up
in a vote. The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) has made it illegal
for robocalls to use AI-generated voices
during election campaigns. The ruling
gives state attorney generals the ability to
take action against callers using AI voice
cloning tech.
Experts are worried about other countries
using AI to interfere in the U.S.
presidential election. One example is that
U.S. operatives found out that Chinese
and Iranian use AI to create fake videos
and audios. Although the operatives never
disseminated the deep fake audio or
video publicly, the previously unreported
intelligence demonstrates concerns U.S.
officials had already four years ago about
the willingness of foreign powers to put
out false information about the voting
process.
Another concern is that AI will be used
to try to disenfranchise voters by sending
out misleading or false information about
how to vote in the presidential election.
According to an article published by the
Brennan Center for Justice, “Generative
AI introduces the possibility of more sophisticated
methods of deception, capable
of being deployed more cheaply and
swiftly on a wider scale. AI’s persuasive
potential may increase over time as current
technological limitations are quickly
surpassed and different forms of AI are
coalesced in new ways.”
AI Deep Fakes Raise Worries
About Election Interference
by Aby Lo ‘26
Maryland’s Senate seat is up for grabs
this November after Senator Ben Cardin
(D) retired after 50 years of service.
Maryland is a staunchly democratic state
that President Joe Biden won by 33 points
in 2020. Despite this, the race to replace
Cardin between Angela Alsobrooks (D)
and former Governor Larry Hogan (R)
remains exceedingly close. A Hogan victory
will have massive, nationwide consequences,
as it could hand Republicans a
critical lead in the Senate. In late September,
polling from The Washington Post
showed Alsobrooks leading Hogan 51
percent to 40 percent among likely voters,
but Hogan is competitive among the
state’s Independent voters and has relatively
strong favorability with a decent
percentage of Democratic voters.
Hogan served as Governor for eight
years and was popular despite being a
Republican in a staunchly democratic
state. Hogan’s popularity among Democrats
can be explained by his more centrist
positions. Unlike many of his fellow
Republicans, Hogan no longer endorses
Trump since the January 6 Insurrection.
Hogan is more liberal on a number of
key issues, such as instituting a comparatively
harsh Covid lockdown in 2020 and
vowing to be a “pro-abortion Senator.”
Hogan’s optics are also starkly different
from most Republicans, being seen smiling
and taking pictures with parade-goers
at a LGBTQ+ Pride Parade this June.
Despite his more moderate views, Hogan
still supports many conservative economic
policies.
Alsobrooks is the current Prince
George’s County Executive and has occupied
that position for six years. She, like
Vice President Kamala Harris, served as
a former prosecutor, serving eight years
as Prince George’s State Attorney, during
which time she oversaw a 50-percent
decline in crime rates. Alsobrooks is a
standard Democrat when it comes to her
views, and she will join her party’s block
of votes in Congress, making her more
favorable to voters who want the Senate
to remain in Democratic control.
Hogan’s stance as a moderate has kept
the race as close as it is. Even though he
still has a long way to go if he wants to
pull off the upset, many media reports
state that they can’t yet rule out Hogan
becoming a Republican senator from the
“blue state” of Maryland.
by Declan Rooney ‘25
Alsobrooks and Hogan Senate
Race Remains Competative
This past July the presidential race was
completely shaken up when President
Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential
race and endorsed Vice President Kamala
Harris. Since then Harris has built up her
campaign, becoming the official nominee
for the Democratic Party in August.
With the introduction of Harris as the new
Democratic nominee, many hoped that she
would be able to turn around many groups
that had previously been resistant to a second
Biden term.
This change in voter enthusiasm has
seemed to coalesce in younger voters who
support Harris in far greater numbers compared
to Biden, according to polls. A US
News/Generation Lab survey conducted
between August 25 and September 3 indicates
a 30-point lead for Harris among voters
18-34 in multiple swing states including
Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada,
Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, compared
to an 18-point lead Biden held in the same
poll after the first presidential debate in
June.
Harris has made youth appeal a focus of
her campaign, utilizing social media trends
to appeal to younger voters. The Harris
campaign, nicknamed “Kamala HQ” on
social media, has a presence on TikTok
and Instagram among other platforms.
The campaign regularly posts videos using
dances, slang, and music popular among
Harris Gains Traction
Among Young Voters
by Ziv Golan‘26
Gen Z. The campaign has used music from
well-known artists such as Taylor Swift and
Chappell Roan, showing younger voters
that they are in touch with trends and want
to engage them with the campaign. The
Harris campaign has also embraced meme
culture, something that no modern presidential
campaign has really done before.
Memes such as the “coconut tree,” which
is a soundbite of one of Harris’s speeches
that went viral, have been used by the
campaign on TikTok. This excites younger
voters, showing them that politics don’t always
have to be overly serious. The Harris
team hopes that the presence on social media
will serve as outreach to teenagers who
will be able to vote in the not-so-distant future.
By doing this the campaign is trying
to show teens that they are focused on the
future and encouraging them to register to
vote, something they can do at age 16.
This effort from the Harris campaign has
gained endorsements from well-known
public figures such as Swift, who has encouraged
her fans to register to vote. This
has added to the momentum of the Harris
campaign, as well as an increase in voter
registration from young adults. In the immediate
days following her endorsement,
more than 400,000 people visited the government-run
voter information site that
she put in her post with the battleground
state of Wisconsin reporting an increase of
1,300 new voters.
HOW CLOSELY HAVE YOU BEEN
FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION?
WHAT POLICY ISSUES ARE MOST
IMPORTANT TO YOU?
KAMALA
DONALD
TRUMP
2024
PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION
HARRIS
KAMALA
DONALD
TRUMP
TRUMP
Poll data gathered from a survey of 247
10-12 graders the week of October 1-8
by Lilah Boig ‘26 and Cliff Vacin ‘25
Trump’s top issue in his campaign is stopping the influx
of immigrants into America. He has stated in his campaign
that illegal immigrants are “poisoning our country”
by bringing in deadly drugs and creating high rates of
migrant crime. Trump promises that if he wins he will “seal
the border” and begin the largest deportation program
in American history.
During Harris’ time as vice president, she expressed support
for those attempting to immigrate legally and criticized
Trump for killing a bipartisan border bill that would
have introduced new border restrictions and funding.
According to her campaign website, she claims that she
will “fix our broken immigration system.”
Trump’s most consistent stance is that the legality of abortion
should be up to the states. He has not addressed
whether he supports the 20 or more states that have
severely restricted or banned access to legal abortions
since the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court ruling. Trump
stated in the presidential debate that he would veto a
national abortion ban. According to his campaign website,
he states he will oppose late-term abortion while
supporting policies that advance prenatal care, access
to birth control, and IVF.
One of Harris’s top issues in her campaign is her promise
to defend women’s reproductive rights, which she
argues that “Trump’s Supreme Court” has curtailed. She
has attacked states with abortion bans that she says put
women’s health at risk. Harris guarantees that if Congress
passes a bill to restore reproductive rights nationwide, as
president she will sign it into law.
Harris supports many of the Biden Administration’s policies,
including infrastructure and renewable energy
spending. Harris intends to ban price gouging as well as
increase taxes for corporations and Americans making
over $400,000 a year. Some of the regulations Harris intends
to implement include capping credit card late
fees, raising the federal minimum wage, and building affordable
housing units.
Trump plans to cut taxes and enact more tariffs, similar to
promises during his first presidency. Trump has embraced
protectionism, putting tariffs in place in his first term and
starting a trade war with China. If president again, he
has promised to extend his 2017 Tax Law that increased
the tax deductions for large corporations and wealthy
individuals.
Trump has denied climate science and has belittled types
of renewable energy, opting for unlimited production of
fossil fuels. After rolling back more than 100 environmental
regulations during his first presidency, Trump pledges
to further rescind “every one” of Biden’s electricity and
electric vehicle regulations. He has not called for policies
to help communities prepare for natural disasters, rather
blaming “poor management” over climate change.
Harris supports the Biden administration’s general approach
to the climate, supporting renewable energy
and encouraging related programs. However, she has
voiced that she doesn’t support an electric vehicle
mandate and no longer supports a fracking ban. Harris
adopted “environmental justice,” where environmental
programs are set to be focused on low-income communities
and communities with large numbers of people of
color.
Trump has held anti-immigration stances throughout his
first term and intends to prevent any future World Wars,
along with “restoring” peace in Europe and the Middle
East. In regard to strengthening the United States, Trump
proposes a missile defense system for the United States
and building up the military. Trump holds an “America
First” ideology, stating that the United States must always
put U.S. priorities and interests first.
When discussing international policy, Harris stated that
she would “stand with our allies, stand up to dictators,
and lead on the world stage.” In regard to the Israel-Hamas
conflict, Harris has said that Israel should defend
itself, but she also encourages a two-state solution.
Harris has also made her support for Ukraine clear.
Trump’s pick is J.D. Vance, a senator from Ohio. Vance
is an outspoken conservative whose messages frequently
revolve around preserving conservative family values.
Vance first became well known as the author of the
memoir Hillbilly Elegy, and Trump picked Vance in part
to appeal to working-class voters who are essential to
winning battleground states in the so-called Rust Belt.
Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running
mate. Viewed as more progressive than Harris, he may
appeal to both younger left-leaning voters and also older
moderates in battleground states like Wisconsin and
Michigan. During his time as governor, he cut taxes for
working families and protected women’s reproductive
rights. Their campaign promises with Walz’s background
as a teacher and member of the military, the Harris-Walz
ticket will continue to defend the working class.
IMMIGRATION
ABORTION
ECONOMY
CLIMATE
INTERNATIONAL POLICY
VP
Artificial Intelligence, also known as
AI, is improving so fast that many are
concerned that it could have serious and
unpredictable effects on the presidential
race and election. There have been examples
over the past six months of AI being
used to create fake photos and spread
false information to influence the election.
AI deep fakes are very easily accessible
and they are likely impacting the
2024 election. In January, fake robocalls
in New Hampshire used an AI-generated
impersonation of President Biden’s voice
to urge Democrats not to vote in the
state’s primary. In July of 2023, a super
PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
in the GOP primary used AI to imitate
Trump’s voice in an ad attacking him.
At least 25 states have passed regulations
against election deep fakes, but federal
action remains largely delayed. Senators
have offered two bills to address the
issue, but they have not been taken up
in a vote. The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) has made it illegal
for robocalls to use AI-generated voices
during election campaigns. The ruling
gives state attorney generals the ability to
take action against callers using AI voice
cloning tech.
Experts are worried about other countries
using AI to interfere in the U.S.
presidential election. One example is that
U.S. operatives found out that Chinese
and Iranian use AI to create fake videos
and audios. Although the operatives never
disseminated the deep fake audio or
video publicly, the previously unreported
intelligence demonstrates concerns U.S.
officials had already four years ago about
the willingness of foreign powers to put
out false information about the voting
process.
Another concern is that AI will be used
to try to disenfranchise voters by sending
out misleading or false information about
how to vote in the presidential election.
According to an article published by the
Brennan Center for Justice, “Generative
AI introduces the possibility of more sophisticated
methods of deception, capable
of being deployed more cheaply and
swiftly on a wider scale. AI’s persuasive
potential may increase over time as current
technological limitations are quickly
surpassed and different forms of AI are
coalesced in new ways.”
AI Deep Fakes Raise Worries
About Election Interference
by Aby Lo ‘26
Maryland’s Senate seat is up for grabs
this November after Senator Ben Cardin
(D) retired after 50 years of service.
Maryland is a staunchly democratic state
that President Joe Biden won by 33 points
in 2020. Despite this, the race to replace
Cardin between Angela Alsobrooks (D)
and former Governor Larry Hogan (R)
remains exceedingly close. A Hogan victory
will have massive, nationwide consequences,
as it could hand Republicans a
critical lead in the Senate. In late September,
polling from The Washington Post
showed Alsobrooks leading Hogan 51
percent to 40 percent among likely voters,
but Hogan is competitive among the
state’s Independent voters and has relatively
strong favorability with a decent
percentage of Democratic voters.
Hogan served as Governor for eight
years and was popular despite being a
Republican in a staunchly democratic
state. Hogan’s popularity among Democrats
can be explained by his more centrist
positions. Unlike many of his fellow
Republicans, Hogan no longer endorses
Trump since the January 6 Insurrection.
Hogan is more liberal on a number of
key issues, such as instituting a comparatively
harsh Covid lockdown in 2020 and
vowing to be a “pro-abortion Senator.”
Hogan’s optics are also starkly different
from most Republicans, being seen smiling
and taking pictures with parade-goers
at a LGBTQ+ Pride Parade this June.
Despite his more moderate views, Hogan
still supports many conservative economic
policies.
Alsobrooks is the current Prince
George’s County Executive and has occupied
that position for six years. She, like
Vice President Kamala Harris, served as
a former prosecutor, serving eight years
as Prince George’s State Attorney, during
which time she oversaw a 50-percent
decline in crime rates. Alsobrooks is a
standard Democrat when it comes to her
views, and she will join her party’s block
of votes in Congress, making her more
favorable to voters who want the Senate
to remain in Democratic control.
Hogan’s stance as a moderate has kept
the race as close as it is. Even though he
still has a long way to go if he wants to
pull off the upset, many media reports
state that they can’t yet rule out Hogan
becoming a Republican senator from the
“blue state” of Maryland.
by Declan Rooney ‘25
Alsobrooks and Hogan Senate
Race Remains Competative
This past July the presidential race was
completely shaken up when President
Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential
race and endorsed Vice President Kamala
Harris. Since then Harris has built up her
campaign, becoming the official nominee
for the Democratic Party in August.
With the introduction of Harris as the new
Democratic nominee, many hoped that she
would be able to turn around many groups
that had previously been resistant to a second
Biden term.
This change in voter enthusiasm has
seemed to coalesce in younger voters who
support Harris in far greater numbers compared
to Biden, according to polls. A US
News/Generation Lab survey conducted
between August 25 and September 3 indicates
a 30-point lead for Harris among voters
18-34 in multiple swing states including
Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada,
Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, compared
to an 18-point lead Biden held in the same
poll after the first presidential debate in
June.
Harris has made youth appeal a focus of
her campaign, utilizing social media trends
to appeal to younger voters. The Harris
campaign, nicknamed “Kamala HQ” on
social media, has a presence on TikTok
and Instagram among other platforms.
The campaign regularly posts videos using
dances, slang, and music popular among
Harris Gains Traction
Among Young Voters
by Ziv Golan‘26
Gen Z. The campaign has used music from
well-known artists such as Taylor Swift and
Chappell Roan, showing younger voters
that they are in touch with trends and want
to engage them with the campaign. The
Harris campaign has also embraced meme
culture, something that no modern presidential
campaign has really done before.
Memes such as the “coconut tree,” which
is a soundbite of one of Harris’s speeches
that went viral, have been used by the
campaign on TikTok. This excites younger
voters, showing them that politics don’t always
have to be overly serious. The Harris
team hopes that the presence on social media
will serve as outreach to teenagers who
will be able to vote in the not-so-distant future.
By doing this the campaign is trying
to show teens that they are focused on the
future and encouraging them to register to
vote, something they can do at age 16.
This effort from the Harris campaign has
gained endorsements from well-known
public figures such as Swift, who has encouraged
her fans to register to vote. This
has added to the momentum of the Harris
campaign, as well as an increase in voter
registration from young adults. In the immediate
days following her endorsement,
more than 400,000 people visited the government-run
voter information site that
she put in her post with the battleground
state of Wisconsin reporting an increase of
1,300 new voters.
HOW CLOSELY HAVE YOU BEEN
FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION?
WHAT POLICY ISSUES ARE MOST
IMPORTANT TO YOU?
KAMALA
DONALD
TRUMP
2024
PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION
HARRIS
KAMALA
DONALD
TRUMP
TRUMP
Poll data gathered from a survey of 247
10-12 graders the week of October 1-8
by Lilah Boig ‘26 and Cliff Vacin ‘25
Trump’s top issue in his campaign is stopping the influx
of immigrants into America. He has stated in his campaign
that illegal immigrants are “poisoning our country”
by bringing in deadly drugs and creating high rates of
migrant crime. Trump promises that if he wins he will “seal
the border” and begin the largest deportation program
in American history.
During Harris’ time as vice president, she expressed support
for those attempting to immigrate legally and criticized
Trump for killing a bipartisan border bill that would
have introduced new border restrictions and funding.
According to her campaign website, she claims that she
will “fix our broken immigration system.”
Trump’s most consistent stance is that the legality of abortion
should be up to the states. He has not addressed
whether he supports the 20 or more states that have
severely restricted or banned access to legal abortions
since the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court ruling. Trump
stated in the presidential debate that he would veto a
national abortion ban. According to his campaign website,
he states he will oppose late-term abortion while
supporting policies that advance prenatal care, access
to birth control, and IVF.
One of Harris’s top issues in her campaign is her promise
to defend women’s reproductive rights, which she
argues that “Trump’s Supreme Court” has curtailed. She
has attacked states with abortion bans that she says put
women’s health at risk. Harris guarantees that if Congress
passes a bill to restore reproductive rights nationwide, as
president she will sign it into law.
Harris supports many of the Biden Administration’s policies,
including infrastructure and renewable energy
spending. Harris intends to ban price gouging as well as
increase taxes for corporations and Americans making
over $400,000 a year. Some of the regulations Harris intends
to implement include capping credit card late
fees, raising the federal minimum wage, and building affordable
housing units.
Trump plans to cut taxes and enact more tariffs, similar to
promises during his first presidency. Trump has embraced
protectionism, putting tariffs in place in his first term and
starting a trade war with China. If president again, he
has promised to extend his 2017 Tax Law that increased
the tax deductions for large corporations and wealthy
individuals.
Trump has denied climate science and has belittled types
of renewable energy, opting for unlimited production of
fossil fuels. After rolling back more than 100 environmental
regulations during his first presidency, Trump pledges
to further rescind “every one” of Biden’s electricity and
electric vehicle regulations. He has not called for policies
to help communities prepare for natural disasters, rather
blaming “poor management” over climate change.
Harris supports the Biden administration’s general approach
to the climate, supporting renewable energy
and encouraging related programs. However, she has
voiced that she doesn’t support an electric vehicle
mandate and no longer supports a fracking ban. Harris
adopted “environmental justice,” where environmental
programs are set to be focused on low-income communities
and communities with large numbers of people of
color.
Trump has held anti-immigration stances throughout his
first term and intends to prevent any future World Wars,
along with “restoring” peace in Europe and the Middle
East. In regard to strengthening the United States, Trump
proposes a missile defense system for the United States
and building up the military. Trump holds an “America
First” ideology, stating that the United States must always
put U.S. priorities and interests first.
When discussing international policy, Harris stated that
she would “stand with our allies, stand up to dictators,
and lead on the world stage.” In regard to the Israel-Hamas
conflict, Harris has said that Israel should defend
itself, but she also encourages a two-state solution.
Harris has also made her support for Ukraine clear.
Trump’s pick is J.D. Vance, a senator from Ohio. Vance
is an outspoken conservative whose messages frequently
revolve around preserving conservative family values.
Vance first became well known as the author of the
memoir Hillbilly Elegy, and Trump picked Vance in part
to appeal to working-class voters who are essential to
winning battleground states in the so-called Rust Belt.
Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running
mate. Viewed as more progressive than Harris, he may
appeal to both younger left-leaning voters and also older
moderates in battleground states like Wisconsin and
Michigan. During his time as governor, he cut taxes for
working families and protected women’s reproductive
rights. Their campaign promises with Walz’s background
as a teacher and member of the military, the Harris-Walz
ticket will continue to defend the working class.
IMMIGRATION
ABORTION
ECONOMY
CLIMATE
INTERNATIONAL POLICY
VP
Artificial Intelligence, also known as
AI, is improving so fast that many are
concerned that it could have serious and
unpredictable effects on the presidential
race and election. There have been examples
over the past six months of AI being
used to create fake photos and spread
false information to influence the election.
AI deep fakes are very easily accessible
and they are likely impacting the
2024 election. In January, fake robocalls
in New Hampshire used an AI-generated
impersonation of President Biden’s voice
to urge Democrats not to vote in the
state’s primary. In July of 2023, a super
PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
in the GOP primary used AI to imitate
Trump’s voice in an ad attacking him.
At least 25 states have passed regulations
against election deep fakes, but federal
action remains largely delayed. Senators
have offered two bills to address the
issue, but they have not been taken up
in a vote. The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) has made it illegal
for robocalls to use AI-generated voices
during election campaigns. The ruling
gives state attorney generals the ability to
take action against callers using AI voice
cloning tech.
Experts are worried about other countries
using AI to interfere in the U.S.
presidential election. One example is that
U.S. operatives found out that Chinese
and Iranian use AI to create fake videos
and audios. Although the operatives never
disseminated the deep fake audio or
video publicly, the previously unreported
intelligence demonstrates concerns U.S.
officials had already four years ago about
the willingness of foreign powers to put
out false information about the voting
process.
Another concern is that AI will be used
to try to disenfranchise voters by sending
out misleading or false information about
how to vote in the presidential election.
According to an article published by the
Brennan Center for Justice, “Generative
AI introduces the possibility of more sophisticated
methods of deception, capable
of being deployed more cheaply and
swiftly on a wider scale. AI’s persuasive
potential may increase over time as current
technological limitations are quickly
surpassed and different forms of AI are
coalesced in new ways.”
AI Deep Fakes Raise Worries
About Election Interference
by Aby Lo ‘26
Maryland’s Senate seat is up for grabs
this November after Senator Ben Cardin
(D) retired after 50 years of service.
Maryland is a staunchly democratic state
that President Joe Biden won by 33 points
in 2020. Despite this, the race to replace
Cardin between Angela Alsobrooks (D)
and former Governor Larry Hogan (R)
remains exceedingly close. A Hogan victory
will have massive, nationwide consequences,
as it could hand Republicans a
critical lead in the Senate. In late September,
polling from The Washington Post
showed Alsobrooks leading Hogan 51
percent to 40 percent among likely voters,
but Hogan is competitive among the
state’s Independent voters and has relatively
strong favorability with a decent
percentage of Democratic voters.
Hogan served as Governor for eight
years and was popular despite being a
Republican in a staunchly democratic
state. Hogan’s popularity among Democrats
can be explained by his more centrist
positions. Unlike many of his fellow
Republicans, Hogan no longer endorses
Trump since the January 6 Insurrection.
Hogan is more liberal on a number of
key issues, such as instituting a comparatively
harsh Covid lockdown in 2020 and
vowing to be a “pro-abortion Senator.”
Hogan’s optics are also starkly different
from most Republicans, being seen smiling
and taking pictures with parade-goers
at a LGBTQ+ Pride Parade this June.
Despite his more moderate views, Hogan
still supports many conservative economic
policies.
Alsobrooks is the current Prince
George’s County Executive and has occupied
that position for six years. She, like
Vice President Kamala Harris, served as
a former prosecutor, serving eight years
as Prince George’s State Attorney, during
which time she oversaw a 50-percent
decline in crime rates. Alsobrooks is a
standard Democrat when it comes to her
views, and she will join her party’s block
of votes in Congress, making her more
favorable to voters who want the Senate
to remain in Democratic control.
Hogan’s stance as a moderate has kept
the race as close as it is. Even though he
still has a long way to go if he wants to
pull off the upset, many media reports
state that they can’t yet rule out Hogan
becoming a Republican senator from the
“blue state” of Maryland.
by Declan Rooney ‘25
Alsobrooks and Hogan Senate
Race Remains Competative
This past July the presidential race was
completely shaken up when President
Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential
race and endorsed Vice President Kamala
Harris. Since then Harris has built up her
campaign, becoming the official nominee
for the Democratic Party in August.
With the introduction of Harris as the new
Democratic nominee, many hoped that she
would be able to turn around many groups
that had previously been resistant to a second
Biden term.
This change in voter enthusiasm has
seemed to coalesce in younger voters who
support Harris in far greater numbers compared
to Biden, according to polls. A US
News/Generation Lab survey conducted
between August 25 and September 3 indicates
a 30-point lead for Harris among voters
18-34 in multiple swing states including
Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada,
Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, compared
to an 18-point lead Biden held in the same
poll after the first presidential debate in
June.
Harris has made youth appeal a focus of
her campaign, utilizing social media trends
to appeal to younger voters. The Harris
campaign, nicknamed “Kamala HQ” on
social media, has a presence on TikTok
and Instagram among other platforms.
The campaign regularly posts videos using
dances, slang, and music popular among
Harris Gains Traction
Among Young Voters
by Ziv Golan‘26
Gen Z. The campaign has used music from
well-known artists such as Taylor Swift and
Chappell Roan, showing younger voters
that they are in touch with trends and want
to engage them with the campaign. The
Harris campaign has also embraced meme
culture, something that no modern presidential
campaign has really done before.
Memes such as the “coconut tree,” which
is a soundbite of one of Harris’s speeches
that went viral, have been used by the
campaign on TikTok. This excites younger
voters, showing them that politics don’t always
have to be overly serious. The Harris
team hopes that the presence on social media
will serve as outreach to teenagers who
will be able to vote in the not-so-distant future.
By doing this the campaign is trying
to show teens that they are focused on the
future and encouraging them to register to
vote, something they can do at age 16.
This effort from the Harris campaign has
gained endorsements from well-known
public figures such as Swift, who has encouraged
her fans to register to vote. This
has added to the momentum of the Harris
campaign, as well as an increase in voter
registration from young adults. In the immediate
days following her endorsement,
more than 400,000 people visited the government-run
voter information site that
she put in her post with the battleground
state of Wisconsin reporting an increase of
1,300 new voters.
HOW CLOSELY HAVE YOU BEEN
FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION?
WHAT POLICY ISSUES ARE MOST
IMPORTANT TO YOU?
KAMALA
DONALD
TRUMP
2024
PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION
HARRIS
KAMALA
DONALD
TRUMP
TRUMP
Poll data gathered from a survey of 247
10-12 graders the week of October 1-8
by Lilah Boig ‘26 and Cliff Vacin ‘25
Trump’s top issue in his campaign is stopping the influx
of immigrants into America. He has stated in his campaign
that illegal immigrants are “poisoning our country”
by bringing in deadly drugs and creating high rates of
migrant crime. Trump promises that if he wins he will “seal
the border” and begin the largest deportation program
in American history.
During Harris’ time as vice president, she expressed support
for those attempting to immigrate legally and criticized
Trump for killing a bipartisan border bill that would
have introduced new border restrictions and funding.
According to her campaign website, she claims that she
will “fix our broken immigration system.”
Trump’s most consistent stance is that the legality of abortion
should be up to the states. He has not addressed
whether he supports the 20 or more states that have
severely restricted or banned access to legal abortions
since the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court ruling. Trump
stated in the presidential debate that he would veto a
national abortion ban. According to his campaign website,
he states he will oppose late-term abortion while
supporting policies that advance prenatal care, access
to birth control, and IVF.
One of Harris’s top issues in her campaign is her promise
to defend women’s reproductive rights, which she
argues that “Trump’s Supreme Court” has curtailed. She
has attacked states with abortion bans that she says put
women’s health at risk. Harris guarantees that if Congress
passes a bill to restore reproductive rights nationwide, as
president she will sign it into law.
Harris supports many of the Biden Administration’s policies,
including infrastructure and renewable energy
spending. Harris intends to ban price gouging as well as
increase taxes for corporations and Americans making
over $400,000 a year. Some of the regulations Harris intends
to implement include capping credit card late
fees, raising the federal minimum wage, and building affordable
housing units.
Trump plans to cut taxes and enact more tariffs, similar to
promises during his first presidency. Trump has embraced
protectionism, putting tariffs in place in his first term and
starting a trade war with China. If president again, he
has promised to extend his 2017 Tax Law that increased
the tax deductions for large corporations and wealthy
individuals.
Trump has denied climate science and has belittled types
of renewable energy, opting for unlimited production of
fossil fuels. After rolling back more than 100 environmental
regulations during his first presidency, Trump pledges
to further rescind “every one” of Biden’s electricity and
electric vehicle regulations. He has not called for policies
to help communities prepare for natural disasters, rather
blaming “poor management” over climate change.
Harris supports the Biden administration’s general approach
to the climate, supporting renewable energy
and encouraging related programs. However, she has
voiced that she doesn’t support an electric vehicle
mandate and no longer supports a fracking ban. Harris
adopted “environmental justice,” where environmental
programs are set to be focused on low-income communities
and communities with large numbers of people of
color.
Trump has held anti-immigration stances throughout his
first term and intends to prevent any future World Wars,
along with “restoring” peace in Europe and the Middle
East. In regard to strengthening the United States, Trump
proposes a missile defense system for the United States
and building up the military. Trump holds an “America
First” ideology, stating that the United States must always
put U.S. priorities and interests first.
When discussing international policy, Harris stated that
she would “stand with our allies, stand up to dictators,
and lead on the world stage.” In regard to the Israel-Hamas
conflict, Harris has said that Israel should defend
itself, but she also encourages a two-state solution.
Harris has also made her support for Ukraine clear.
Trump’s pick is J.D. Vance, a senator from Ohio. Vance
is an outspoken conservative whose messages frequently
revolve around preserving conservative family values.
Vance first became well known as the author of the
memoir Hillbilly Elegy, and Trump picked Vance in part
to appeal to working-class voters who are essential to
winning battleground states in the so-called Rust Belt.
Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running
mate. Viewed as more progressive than Harris, he may
appeal to both younger left-leaning voters and also older
moderates in battleground states like Wisconsin and
Michigan. During his time as governor, he cut taxes for
working families and protected women’s reproductive
rights. Their campaign promises with Walz’s background
as a teacher and member of the military, the Harris-Walz
ticket will continue to defend the working class.
IMMIGRATION
ABORTION
ECONOMY
CLIMATE
INTERNATIONAL POLICY
VP
Artificial Intelligence, also known as
AI, is improving so fast that many are
concerned that it could have serious and
unpredictable effects on the presidential
race and election. There have been examples
over the past six months of AI being
used to create fake photos and spread
false information to influence the election.
AI deep fakes are very easily accessible
and they are likely impacting the
2024 election. In January, fake robocalls
in New Hampshire used an AI-generated
impersonation of President Biden’s voice
to urge Democrats not to vote in the
state’s primary. In July of 2023, a super
PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
in the GOP primary used AI to imitate
Trump’s voice in an ad attacking him.
At least 25 states have passed regulations
against election deep fakes, but federal
action remains largely delayed. Senators
have offered two bills to address the
issue, but they have not been taken up
in a vote. The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) has made it illegal
for robocalls to use AI-generated voices
during election campaigns. The ruling
gives state attorney generals the ability to
take action against callers using AI voice
cloning tech.
Experts are worried about other countries
using AI to interfere in the U.S.
presidential election. One example is that
U.S. operatives found out that Chinese
and Iranian use AI to create fake videos
and audios. Although the operatives never
disseminated the deep fake audio or
video publicly, the previously unreported
intelligence demonstrates concerns U.S.
officials had already four years ago about
the willingness of foreign powers to put
out false information about the voting
process.
Another concern is that AI will be used
to try to disenfranchise voters by sending
out misleading or false information about
how to vote in the presidential election.
According to an article published by the
Brennan Center for Justice, “Generative
AI introduces the possibility of more sophisticated
methods of deception, capable
of being deployed more cheaply and
swiftly on a wider scale. AI’s persuasive
potential may increase over time as current
technological limitations are quickly
surpassed and different forms of AI are
coalesced in new ways.”
AI Deep Fakes Raise Worries
About Election Interference
by Aby Lo ‘26
Maryland’s Senate seat is up for grabs
this November after Senator Ben Cardin
(D) retired after 50 years of service.
Maryland is a staunchly democratic state
that President Joe Biden won by 33 points
in 2020. Despite this, the race to replace
Cardin between Angela Alsobrooks (D)
and former Governor Larry Hogan (R)
remains exceedingly close. A Hogan victory
will have massive, nationwide consequences,
as it could hand Republicans a
critical lead in the Senate. In late September,
polling from The Washington Post
showed Alsobrooks leading Hogan 51
percent to 40 percent among likely voters,
but Hogan is competitive among the
state’s Independent voters and has relatively
strong favorability with a decent
percentage of Democratic voters.
Hogan served as Governor for eight
years and was popular despite being a
Republican in a staunchly democratic
state. Hogan’s popularity among Democrats
can be explained by his more centrist
positions. Unlike many of his fellow
Republicans, Hogan no longer endorses
Trump since the January 6 Insurrection.
Hogan is more liberal on a number of
key issues, such as instituting a comparatively
harsh Covid lockdown in 2020 and
vowing to be a “pro-abortion Senator.”
Hogan’s optics are also starkly different
from most Republicans, being seen smiling
and taking pictures with parade-goers
at a LGBTQ+ Pride Parade this June.
Despite his more moderate views, Hogan
still supports many conservative economic
policies.
Alsobrooks is the current Prince
George’s County Executive and has occupied
that position for six years. She, like
Vice President Kamala Harris, served as
a former prosecutor, serving eight years
as Prince George’s State Attorney, during
which time she oversaw a 50-percent
decline in crime rates. Alsobrooks is a
standard Democrat when it comes to her
views, and she will join her party’s block
of votes in Congress, making her more
favorable to voters who want the Senate
to remain in Democratic control.
Hogan’s stance as a moderate has kept
the race as close as it is. Even though he
still has a long way to go if he wants to
pull off the upset, many media reports
state that they can’t yet rule out Hogan
becoming a Republican senator from the
“blue state” of Maryland.
by Declan Rooney ‘25
Alsobrooks and Hogan Senate
Race Remains Competative
This past July the presidential race was
completely shaken up when President
Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential
race and endorsed Vice President Kamala
Harris. Since then Harris has built up her
campaign, becoming the official nominee
for the Democratic Party in August.
With the introduction of Harris as the new
Democratic nominee, many hoped that she
would be able to turn around many groups
that had previously been resistant to a second
Biden term.
This change in voter enthusiasm has
seemed to coalesce in younger voters who
support Harris in far greater numbers compared
to Biden, according to polls. A US
News/Generation Lab survey conducted
between August 25 and September 3 indicates
a 30-point lead for Harris among voters
18-34 in multiple swing states including
Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada,
Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, compared
to an 18-point lead Biden held in the same
poll after the first presidential debate in
June.
Harris has made youth appeal a focus of
her campaign, utilizing social media trends
to appeal to younger voters. The Harris
campaign, nicknamed “Kamala HQ” on
social media, has a presence on TikTok
and Instagram among other platforms.
The campaign regularly posts videos using
dances, slang, and music popular among
Harris Gains Traction
Among Young Voters
by Ziv Golan‘26
Gen Z. The campaign has used music from
well-known artists such as Taylor Swift and
Chappell Roan, showing younger voters
that they are in touch with trends and want
to engage them with the campaign. The
Harris campaign has also embraced meme
culture, something that no modern presidential
campaign has really done before.
Memes such as the “coconut tree,” which
is a soundbite of one of Harris’s speeches
that went viral, have been used by the
campaign on TikTok. This excites younger
voters, showing them that politics don’t always
have to be overly serious. The Harris
team hopes that the presence on social media
will serve as outreach to teenagers who
will be able to vote in the not-so-distant future.
By doing this the campaign is trying
to show teens that they are focused on the
future and encouraging them to register to
vote, something they can do at age 16.
This effort from the Harris campaign has
gained endorsements from well-known
public figures such as Swift, who has encouraged
her fans to register to vote. This
has added to the momentum of the Harris
campaign, as well as an increase in voter
registration from young adults. In the immediate
days following her endorsement,
more than 400,000 people visited the government-run
voter information site that
she put in her post with the battleground
state of Wisconsin reporting an increase of
1,300 new voters.
HOW CLOSELY HAVE YOU BEEN
FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION?
WHAT POLICY ISSUES ARE MOST
IMPORTANT TO YOU?
KAMALA
DONALD
TRUMP
2024
PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION
HARRIS
KAMALA
DONALD
TRUMP
TRUMP
Poll data gathered from a survey of 247
10-12 graders the week of October 1-8
by Lilah Boig ‘26 and Cliff Vacin ‘25
12
The Warrior • Humor
October 31, 2024
HUMOR DISCLAIMER: This section is is intended as as satire and uses the tools of of exaggeration, irony, or or
ridicule in in the context of of politics, current trends, recent school events, and other topical issues.
Sherwood High School Institutes an
Unorthodox Interior Design Program
by Fiona Lipczenko ‘25
In order to keep up with development
programs at local high
schools, such as the complete
replacement of Northwood’s facility
and major capital projects
at Damascus and Poolesville,
Sherwood is instituting an innovative
interior design plan. Staff,
students, and parents alike are
stunned by the nonconformist
design choices manifesting in the
building.
To really open up the space,
building services have been removing
ceiling tiles. Not only
does it eliminate mold spores to
improve public health, but it also
contributes to creating an airy
atmosphere that helps students
clear their heads. The exposed
wires and piping double as real-world
examples of engineering
and electrical design for students
interested in such educational
pathways. Due to a lack of window
access to natural imagery,
the school has opted for interior
water features to better connect
students to nature. The most notable
of these is the rain effect,
which has been most notably
tested in B212, the upper H hall
nearby H245, and the cafeteria.
Ceiling tiles unpredictably begin
leaking fresh, rejuvenating water
to simulate natural rainfall, occasionally
landing on lucky, unsuspecting
passerby. The incorporation
of natural elements in the
learning environment has certainly
taken Sherwood by storm.
by Fiona Lipczenko ‘25
Other attempts at reconnecting
students with nature include
wooden boards over bathroom
doors simulating forest-like ambiance
and the introduction of “animal
encounters” programming.
Such programming is evident in
math teacher Babasola Ogusanya’s
classroom, where a swarm of
bees made their home in one of
the light fixtures throughout September,
and in rumors of cockroaches
throughout the building.
The visitation of a raccoon in the
art department over the summer
diversifies these animal encounters
to include mammals. After
all, there is absolutely nothing of
greater importance at Sherwood
than encouraging diversity. Fondly
nicknamed Rocky, the raccoon
left his paw prints in art teachers
Shel Spangle’s and Hailey Mitkoff’s
offices, as well as on the
community’s hearts.
The interior design initiative
has both staff and parents captivated,
and now, even the students
are getting involved. They have
demonstrated skills acquired in
classes such as Studio Art and
Anatomy and Physiology, by decorating
any and all available bare
surfaces with stylistic anatomical
drawings. Sinks, toilets, and soap
dispensers have gone missing
from bathrooms to contribute to
the grunge aesthetic the students
have advocated for. Other contributions
include broken desks and
computer lab devices. The grunge
theme is commonly attributed to
being inspired by the caution tape
over one of the main entrance
doors for the first month of the
school year.
Senior Soapbox
The Kids Aren’t Alright
by Jordan Costolo ‘25
These three-plus years at
Sherwood have been painful for
us Seniors. While the three graduating
Classes before us got lucky
and had at least a year break
from this wretched place due to
Covid, the Class of 2025 will be
the first class in years who will
get the full Sherwood experience.
They say that the years before us
are the brave ones, HAVING to
wake up at 9am and play video
games while a teacher rambles
in a Zoom meeting on low volume.
WE HAD TO ACTUALLY
BE HERE. As if that wasn’t bad
enough, a few colleges and universities
actually have the nerve
to require SAT or ACT scores
for admissions. We can’t catch a
break.
Here we are at the peak, my
fellow Seniors! The best year of
our high school careers according
to our parents and teachers!
At least, it would be, if being a
Senior was still important. Yes,
it’s true: I’m sad to say that by the
time we are finally the big kids on
campus, the filthy underclassmen
have stripped away the powers
the ones before us held so dear.
The phrase “I’m a Senior”
used to MEAN something. When
I was new, things were different.
I was told to FEAR upperclassmen
when I was a Freshman.
Back then, if a Senior told me to
move out of their way in a hallway,
I would move. If they told
me to get out of their lunch spot,
I got up. Now, the kids (who are
supposed to be BENEATH me)
are taking my spot in the Senior
Section during football games???
SO WHAT if I happen to get there
45 minutes late to the game? That
spot on the bleachers is mine!
What happened to respecting your
elders? When I was young, the
Seniors were gods among men. A
higher state of being.
This week, I overheard a story
from a fellow upper-classman
having to deal with Gen Alpha.
He recounted that earlier that
week he had been weaving his
way through the crowds of kids
around the media center during
the change from 1st to 2nd period,
and a Freshman shoulder
checked him to get through. A
FRESHMAN! Now granted, this
Senior is 5’5, 120 pounds, and
wears shirts that say “Game On!”
or “Go Big Or Go Home,”, so I
get the confusion, but that doesn’t
mean he deserves to be man-handled
by a 15 year old who has a
beard and enough creatine in him
to make a mouse the size of a
water-buffalo! Surely the Seniors
before us didn’t feel this way. We
were better.
There’s NO WAY that we’re
feeding into a constant cycle of
hating what comes after us and
sanctifying the things before us,
in a hopeless ritual of stubborn
nostalgia! No, it’s definitely that
the kids suck and we are way
cooler.
by Laurika Pich ‘27
The Warrior • Humor
March 21, 2024
HUMOR DISCLAIMER: This section is is intended as as satire and uses the tools of of exaggeration, irony, or or
ridicule in in the context of of politics, current trends, recent school events, and other topical issues.
13
by Justin Lakso ‘25
Gen Z Slang Guide for
Teachers and Old Heads
by Josh Pulaski ‘25
Does it sometimes feel like
students are speaking a different
language? Is it possible that they
actually do have their own language?
Are you just an old head
boomer no cap? If you’re one of
the unfortunate souls who still
doesn’t know what “rizz” means,
then I’m here to help. Keeping
up with slang isn’t an easy task,
but you’re better off with me than
anything that CNN will tell you.
I’m here to tell you the truth. I
will keep you up to date with all
of the most popular slang terms
currently being used from “aura”
to “zesty”.
Gyatt: Gyatt is an exclamation
utilized to give a compliment
to someone after they get a new
haircut; (e.g. “Hey Alex, nice
Gyatt.”)
Aura: Refers to how someone
smells. Aura works on a numerical
scale: the higher the number
the better the smell, the lower
the number the worse the smell;
(e.g. “Hey Ryan! Plus 250 aura
today!”)
Rizz: Refers to helping
someone with their homework;
(e.g. “Katie is struggling with her
homework Jimmy; you should go
rizz her up!”)
Cap/No Cap: Cap means lying:
no cap means not lying; (e.g.
“This definition is true, no cap!”)
Cooked: A term referring
to when there are no bathroom
passes left; (e.g. “Mr. Hilburger
just caught me cheating, I just got
cooked!”)
NPC: Used to describe a
classroom with a strict no phone
policy. NPC Stands for No Phone
Classroom; (e.g. “Hey Alex, stop
using your phone. This is an
NPC.”)
Fanum Tax: Fanum tax is
a new tax policy recently implemented
where you have to pay
a twenty-five percent tax fee for
‘gender affirmation’ surgery; (e.g.
“I want to transition, but I don’t
know if I can pay the fanum tax.”)
Mukeblobing: Mukeblobing
refers to the act of vomiting
into a crowd as a result of getting
nervous during a presentation or
public performance; (e.g. “Dude,
did you see the debate? Biden
looked like he was gonna mukeblob!”)
Glazing: refers to giving/
helping someone answered while
taking a test; (e.g. “Tom stop
glazing Ronald or I will give you
a zero on this test.”)
Full Jazz: Refers to a famous
prank pulled by a East Mecklenburg
High School student in
which they yelled full jazz into
the PA system and proceeded to
play loud jazz music; (e.g. “You
gonna full jazz it Sabrina?”)
Mogging: Refers to when
someone outperforms a peer in
school; (e.g. “Wow Daniel, Alex
mogged you there. He scored a
9/10 while you only got 7/10.”)
Sigma: Refers to people who
wear goofy mismatched clothes
during the day; (e.g. “Looking
like a sigma today Todd.”)
Zesty: Refers to someone
who has a fun and outgoing personality
while inside the classroom;
(e.g. “Andrew was acting
very zesty today.”)
Now that I have given you
sufficient examples on how to use
these words in a conversation, it
is your job to go into your classroom
and use these words to really
wow your students with your
knowledge of Gen Z slang. They
might shrug their head or roll
their eyes now that their secret
code has been unlocked, but this
should help you better connect
with your students. You’ll finally
be that cool teacher that every
student loves and remembers
long after they graduate.
Why The World Will End Next Year
by Declan Rooney ‘25
In the last decade we have
narrowly escaped the apocalypse
so many times, such as global
threats of nuclear war, the entire
year of 2020, and that time
Taylor Swift wore a mismatched
outfit to one of her concerts. But
I’m here to be the bearer of bad
news: the world is going to end in
the year 2025. Some may scoff at
this proclamation, so if you don’t
believe me, here are five reasons
why the world will end next year:
Presidents. With next
week’s election America will
once again be choosing between
which candidate they hate with a
passion less. Why yes this time
around we have a chance to not
elect someone who is 80 years
old and senile. I am here to tell
you that it doesn’t matter who
will win, they will both throw the
entire world into the abyss. With
Trump, you can bet that he’s just
going to start a nuclear war from
raging at Fortnite, which is kind
of understandable. For Harris,
you can bet the cost of Galaxy
Gas and Robux will skyrocket,
immediately starting a worldwide
revolution because people won’t
have the absolute necessities of
life. Either case we are totally
screwed.
Hurricanes. Hurricane season
this year was pretty bad, with
Hurricane Milton wreaking havoc
on Florida, knocking over trash
cans and spraypainting mean
words onto brick walls around
the city. But I promise you as bad
as it is right now, it’s about to get
much worse, and not because of
“global warming” (we all know
that’s not real). It’s going to get
worse because of Florida continuing
to exist. The longer that affront
to the gods exists the angrier
they will get, eventually causing
a superstorm that will make the
effects of Hurricane Katrina look
like a sandcastle getting knocked
2025
down by a wave. I suggested we
manually put the whole state underwater
right now to stop this
madness, but my hastily put together
4AM Instagram story post
fell on deaf ears. So board up
your windows and pop a Chug
Jug, because the storm is coming.
I Might Get Angry. Sometimes
I get carried away. Now I
know I should have more self
control, but I just get so worked
up when I see things that grind
my gears. For example, one time
I was sitting in a Starbucks enjoying
my Pumpkin Spice Latte on
a lovely Sunday afternoon, until
I overheard someone “mansplaining”
to a strong and independent
woman. Hearing this arrogant
man filled my veins with a
blood-boiling rage. I ripped the
counter off the floor in a fit of rage
and chucked it across the restaurant,
and then started shooting lasers
from my eyes which burned
the whole place to the ground.
When stuff like this happens, no
one knows what I’m capable of,
not even myself. So watch out
next year, especially if arrogant
men keep using micro-aggressions
towards innocent queens.
WNBA. We all know that
the WNBA has been for years the
world’s most successful failing
business, but for the uneducated
the NBA has to support the
WNBA financially because the
league has never been able to turn
a profit, which is due to the known
laws of physics. However, I forecast
this is about the change because
of the best basketball player
since Ben Simmons. That’s right,
Cailtin Clark is going to single
handedly turn the WNBA profitable,
tearing a hole in space time,
and opening a wormhole. From
there, not even the best scientists
know what happens. All I know is
that it’s not good.
269-269. We all know Americans
are dumb but relax guys.
I’m an American, I’m allowed
to say this without getting told
to go Euro-Wedgie myself. All
of these dumb, loud, and proudly
ignorant people are held together
by a strong government invented
by some basically British guys
300 years ago; and thanks to that
now we have Triple Stuffed Oreos.
But what would happen if that
Government was suddenly deadlocked
thanks to a historically
unprecedented Electoral College
tie. This election is close, and all
it would take for this to happen is
a couple of scenarios where the
swing states are split, and Harris
wins two of the three electoral
college districts in Nebraska. If
this were to happen the Republican
controlled house would vote
on the President, and the Democratic
led Senate would elect
the Vice President. In short this
would immediately lead to a civil
war, leading to millions of American
refugees fleeing south to
Mexico, and then from there this
massive country of morons would
be let loose on the globe. So get
ready, College Gameday is coming
to your village in Kazakhstan.
14
The Warrior • Entertainment
October 31, 2024
Pop Princess Supernova: Female Stars Redefining Music and Culture
by George Awkard ‘25
Audrey Farris ‘25
Matilda Hawkins ‘27
Over the past year, the music
industry has experienced a sonic
boom of rising female pop stars
who have taken the reins of the
pop sphere and dominated the
charts. Their music has served
as a voice for women, promoting
the ideals of female empowerment,
self-confidence, and independence.
These pop princesses
have made it clear that they’re the
future of the industry, building a
legacy that will inspire generations
to come.
As “children” of Taylor
Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and
Gracie Abrams can credit some
of their rise to fame to Swift after
gaining worldwide recognition
opening for her critically
acclaimed Eras Tour. Carpenter,
a former Disney Channel star,
had her breakthrough in the pop
industry with her infamous ‘Nonsense’
outros riddled with humor
and wordplay, catching the attention
of the internet. She was further
boosted into the mainstream
with her smash-hit “Espresso,”
an empowering anthem about
female independence. Now, Carpenter
is selling out arenas across
the country, solidifying her role
as one of the most popular female
pop artists of the year. Similar to
Carpenter, Gracie Abrams was
also boosted by the influence of
Swift after featuring Swift on her
track “us.” Abrams further catapulted
into the public eye with her
track “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” a
pop ballad that admits her wrongdoings
in a previous relationship,
which climbed to No. 45 on the
Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Your ‘favorite artist’s favorite
artist’ Chappell Roan exploded
seemingly overnight. Whether
people know her from her Statue
of Liberty homage look at Governors
Ball or from hearing “Casual”
on TikTok, this young, queer
icon is constantly making waves.
With festival attendance hitting
over 100,000, Roan has taken pop
music to a whole new level and
has been rumored to represent a
new era of pop music. Roan built
her career from the ground up
completely independently, and
it wasn’t until she served as an
opener for Oliva Rodrigo’s GUTS
Tour that she began to rapidly
gain recognition. Not only has
this “Midwest Princess” fought
tooth and nail for her spot in the
pop music industry, but she also
doesn’t let anybody disrespect
her. From yelling at impolite reporters
to calling out fans for
disrespecting her personal space,
Roan has made a point to ensure
that her boundaries as an artist are
respected.
Some artists that grew to
fame in the late 2010s but have
flown under the radar over the
past few years have come back
into the pop spotlight by showcasing
their musical versatility.
Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish
have been dominating the pop
music industry since the start of
their music careers. With both
of their debut albums hitting the
top charts and demolishing industry
records, Rodrigo and
Eilish opened the doors for the
new generation of female pop
artists. Rodrigo is most known
for her breakup ballads that resonate
with young women across
the globe, expressing feelings
that, while common, are underrepresented
in modern pop. The
emotional “bedroom pop”-esque
sound isn’t the only thing she can
nail, and some of her songs such
as ‘get him back’ and ‘brutal’
feature a heavier “riot girl” vibe,
showcasing not just her versatility
as an artist but also the wide
variety of emotions that young
women experience. Eilish also
shifts her sound often and creates
quality music that her fans love.
Her songs “NDA” and “xanny”
appeal to those who enjoy an
alternative dark-pop sound, but
for many who enjoy mainstream
pop, she has created upbeat tracks
“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” and
“Happier Than Ever.” Her ability
to stay relevant with influential
singles like “What Was I Made
For?” and performing in sold out
arenas across the globe proves
that she will stand the test of time.
For those who don’t prefer
the sound of the mainstream, other
women in the music industry
have success in their own right.
Charli XCX has hit a complete
360 back into popularity with
her newest album brat, influencing
a trend that adolescents have
Google Images
Google Images
coined “brat Summer.” Not only
has this electro pop diva helped
bring back club music to Gen-Z,
but also has made neon green a
huge trend for teenage girls. With
her hit song “Apple” becoming
viral on TikTok, this young female
is showing a promising future
in the music industry. Renee
Rapp is another young female
rising to fame, especially with
her recent performance in “Mean
Girls.” This young queer icon
has created a safe space for girls
like herself. With sonical influence
from the 90s, her music has
opened itself up to listening from
older generations, along with the
younger fans she has had already.
The Warrior • Entertainment
October 31, 2024
Saturday Night Makes Every Second Count
by Jordan Costolo ‘25
NBC’s Saturday Night Live
is a television institution, featuring
some of the most talented
comedic writers and performers,
together with famous guest celebrities
and musicians. But six decades
ago, SNL was an obscured
live show made by a group of
twenty-something comedians that
executives thought were destined
to fail.
The movie Saturday Night is
a biopic about the 90 minutes before
the first Saturday Night Live
episode aired in 1975. The movie
itself (minus credits) is roughly
90 minutes, tracing the events of
the night minute by minute, being
almost completely accurate
to the events as they happened
in real life. The writers achieved
this by interviewing many of
the cast and crew members who
worked on the premiere episode,
most of them recalling it as one of
the most stressful nights of their
lives.
Directed by Jason Reitman,
Saturday Night does an excellent
job portraying the chaotic whirlwind
that was the crunch time
before SNL first aired. Through
rapid camera movements and
masterful one-take shots, the audience
is able to see the full space
of NBC’s 8th floor, where the
show broadcasts from. The constant
movement of every character
in every shot, along with
the camera itself, makes the entire
floor feel alive with anxiety
and excitement. The score also
heightens the experience, with
most scenes being put to intense
jazz music, which alone puts an
audience member on the edge.
Not only is the general ambience
of the movie bright and
Paloma Illanes ‘25
This year, the theater department
will put together a production
of Mamma Mia!, a musical
full of exciting dance numbers,
singing, and drama. The storyline
is based around the songs of
Swedish band ABBA, who was
first popular in the 1970s and early
80s for a multitude of hit songs
like “Dancing Queen,” “Chiquitita,”
and “Waterloo.” The original
musical was first performed in
London in 1999, and later made
into a movie adaptation in 2008
starring celebrities Meryl Streep,
Amanda Seyfried, and Pierce
Brosnan.
Mamma Mia was chosen by
director Elizabeth Kominski to
highlight the talents of the current
students in the program and also
produce a fun and exciting show
for the community. Expectations
for the sets, lighting, and performances
are set high thanks to the
“extremely talented crew both on
the stage and off,” said Kominski.
Audiences can look forward to a
new twist involving staff members
in cameo performing roles,
and “maybe even your principal
on the stage,” teased Kominski.
With rehearsals now in full
swing, the show is gearing up to
be a huge success. The students
have been focused and working
hard. The production process this
year seems to flow very smoothly,
according to Kominski, who added
that senior Avery Fox has been
contributing excellent choreography.
Kominski believes that the
exciting, but many of the characters
and performances are as well.
Most of the original cast of SNL
are such characters in real life that
depicting them on screen is an
easy task. The cast who portrays
these stars is mostly made up of
younger actors, who while talented,
don’t have much to show filmography
wise. Even so, almost
every performance in the movie
is bursting with energy and expertise,
to the point where some
of the more unknown actors, such
as Matt Wood portraying John
Belushi, or Cory Micheal Smith
portraying Chevy Chase, outshine
old pros like Willem Dafoe
or J. K. Simmons, who portrays
David Tebet and Milton Berle, respectively.
Balancing both the development
of so many strong characters
and the quick and stressful atmosphere
would be difficult for most
movies. Saturday Night pulls it
off skillfully. The movie does this
by inserting small moments of intimacy
between characters amidst
the frenetic environment. These
short interactions between two
or three characters at a time lets
actors fresh and seasoned breathe
life into their different portrayals.
The strong chemistry that the
entire cast shares shines in these
moments. Even though the fast
paced tensions throughout the
movie are entertaining, the true
draw lies in the love and care
that was given to each character.
These strong bonds make the
eventual airing of the first episode
that much more rewarding.
Grade: A+
Google Images
ease and excitement that Mamma
Mia! radiates might be due to the
fact that students are more familiar
with the music and show.
The students involved in the
musical are just as excited. It feels
like the “perfect show” to end
on, said senior Ellie Schwam as
15
The Wild Robot Pays Its
Respects to Original
Dreamworks Classics
by Evelyn San Miguel ‘26
George Awkard ‘25
this is the last fall musical of her
Sherwood career. The sense of
community and the bonds among
actors is strong, and it’s exciting
for them to be able to perform
alongside one another. “Some of
these people I’ve never gotten the
chance to be on stage with at the
Since its release in theaters on
September 27, Dreamworks’ The
Wild Robot has become an instant
classic among audiences, solidifying
its legacy among some of
the animation studio’s greatest
films. Based on the hit children’s
series of the same name by Peter
Brown, The Wild Robot is set on
an island in the Pacific Ocean in
a futuristic world. The island,
untouched by mankind, collides
with the man-made world when
a helper robot named Roz (Lupita
Nyong’o), crashes on the island’s
shores. Left without a task to
complete, Roz wanders the island
for her purpose, disrupting the
lives of the wild animals that live
there.
Through an unfortunate
series of events, Roz ends up
adopting a gosling — Brightbill
— who believes Roz is his
mother. Coded to adapt to simple
domestic tasks — essentially the
equivalent of an ultra-intelligent
and anthropomorphic Alexa more
than anything else — Roz finds
motherhood a far more difficult
assignment than she feels she is
capable of completing. Entrusted
with raising Brightbill and teaching
him to fly by autumn, Roz and
her friend/co-parent Fink (Pedro
Pascal) take up the challenge and
joys of being Brightbill’s parents
and guardians. Brightbill, played
by Heartstopper lead Kit Connor,
brings a sweet and endearing
voice to one of the movie’s central
characters. Told through beautiful
writing and groundbreaking
animation, The Wild Robot tells
an emotional story of family,
love, and finding your place in
the world. While its message of
found family is nothing original,
The Wild Robot is a feel-good,
family-friendly adventure, with
animation that celebrates the legacy
of Dreamworks’ animation
studio and the veteran creatives
that worked on the project.
Through impressive voices
like Nyong’o, Pascal, and Connor,
The Wild Robot is enhanced
by its A-list cast, bringing the
characters to stunning and vivid
life. As Roz makes the island
her home, she and the animals
around her adapt to their changing
world, uniting and breaking
the boundaries of predator/prey
for the sake of saving their home.
With moments recalling Dreamworks’
masterworks like How to
Train Your Dragon and Puss in
Boots: The Last Wish, The Wild
Robot brings a beautiful addition
to Dreamworks’ portfolio of visually
phenomenal and artistically
magnificent animated films.
After the film’s raving reviews
from Rotten Tomatoes,
IMDb, and The New York Times,
The Wild Robot is expected to be
on streaming sites in the following
months, bringing audiences
closer to the film’s unforgettable
story through the comfort of their
own homes.
Grade: A
Fall Musical Mamma Mia Will Bring Out Your Inner Dancing Queen
Sophmore Leo Hoffman and seniors Ellie Schwam and Katie Reese rehearse “Super Trouper” for the fall show.
same time” said Schwam, who is
playing the role of Donna Sheridan,
one of the leads as owner of
a hotel, mother, and friend.
Playing the role of Sophie,
the leading character trying to
find out the truth about her biological
dad, are seniors Ali Weinrich
and Melia Walz. There is
lots of excitement regarding not
only the musical but the part of
Sophie for these actresses. Weinrich
feels some kinship with Sophie
because of her “goofy and
cheesy but mostly really kind and
sentimental” personality. Playing
a lead is a big responsibility and
a challenge with learning all the
lines, dances, and songs, but she’s
looking forward to helping “make
a show come to life and have an
audience connect” with her character.
This year’s fall musical of
Mamma Mia! is expected to be a
hit with audiences as the cast and
crew are putting in lots of effort
to make the production a wonderful
success. Kominski and actors
alike encourage everyone to come
see the show from November 21-
24 for a student price of $10, and
can’t wait for audiences to experience
the fun and excitement on
stage.
16
The Warrior • Entertainment
October 31, 2024
What We’re Listening To...
Figure 8 - Elliot Smith
Figure 8 by Elliott Smith was
crafted and released in 2000 three
years before his death at the age of
34. Among Elliott’s unique gifts were
his incredibly creative chord progressions.
“Son of Sam” opens the
album with an amazing harmony
throughout the song. The piano and
vocals on “Everything Means Nothing
To Me” are performed in unison
and the track ends with a beautiful
orchestral performance. Tracks like
“L.A.” and “Junk Bond Trader” are
very lively with both encompassing
exciting riffs and lyrics. The album
takes a turn with “In the Lost and
Found (Honky Bach)”/“The Roost”
when Smith performs a honky tonk
with very interesting chord changes.
by Matthew Leighton-Jones ‘25
SOUR - Olivia Rodrigo
Google Images
“Can’t Make a Sound” is one of the
last tracks, and it is one of the best.
Two Star & The Dream Police - Mk.gee
Compared to an early
Prince by Eric Clapton, Mk.gee is a
unique guitarist, vocalist, and producer
who explores a wonderful
soundscape. Blending ‘80s synths,
smooth R&B production, and a darker
shade of psychedelia, his album
from earlier this year ranges from
somber to impassioned. Throughout,
the dynamics and effects are
distinctly manipulated to immerse
the listener directly in his emotions.
Mk.gee has commented that it follows
the second coming of a hero,
with the story woven through sonically
and lyrically. Through his extraordinary
live shows and YouTube
performances, he even continues
to evolve the album to a whole
new level. This project creates an
atmosphere that’s unlike any other.
by Nick Hammond ‘25
Google Images
Headless Cross - Black Sabbath
After the rough breakup with
a boyfriend at the time, Olivia Rodrigo
stormed into the music industry
with her debut studio album, SOUR.
Reaching the top charts in no time,
Rodrigo uses passionate lyricism
and genre-hopping pop to express
issues that many teenage girls often
experience. The album’s name refers
to the “sour” emotions teenagers
often go through, and the songs
accentuate this theme. Ranging
from the rage shown in “brutal” to
the heartache shown in “favorite
crime,” Rodrigo sums up practically
all the emotions the moody teens
express. This masterpiece is the
perfect comfort album if you’re a
Google Images
struggling teenager filled to the brim
with feelings you can’t describe.
by Matilda Hawkins ‘27
Black Sabbath’s unholy
council came together and concocted
the wicked Headless Cross
in April of 1989. With ungodly, atmospheric
keyboards, “The Gates
Of Hell” sets the tone for what this
album has to offer. New member
Laurence Cottle’s doom-soaked
bass riffs provided the foundation
for heavy metal godfather Toni
Lommi’s mystic guitarwork to take
center stage while also leaving
room for drumming veteran Cozy
Powell to really shine. This expertise
in haunting musicianship lays
the groundwork for vocalist Tony
Martin to relay his fantasy soaked,
frequently magical lyrics to fans.
Headless Cross remains his most evil
and blasphemous work to date.
by Jack Engelhardt ‘25
Google Images
CHECK OUT
THE WARRIOR ONLINE
FOR WEEKLY NEWS
AND SPORTS COVERAGE!
AD
thewarrioronline.com
The Warrior • Entertainment
October 31, 2024
17
Dive into The Hit Music Venues of the DMV
by Jack Engelhardt ‘25
On the streets of the night
exist places that produce cherished
shows, bustling with familiar
friends and new ones alike. In
these tiny clubs, music hungry
fans tear off the walls. Up in the
skies are huge arenas filled with
theatrics and pyrotechnics that
promise to provide you with a
night you will never forget. With
huge open walls, the music pours
over and out into the streets of the
city. While it may not seem like it
from the outside, the Baltimore
and DC areas have numerous music
venues, all different but similar
in their delivery of an unforgettable
concert experience that will
certainly have you coming back
for more.
Metro Gallery
Located in the heart of the
Station North Arts District, Metro
Baltimore strives to have a little
something for everyone. The
Metro is a perfect place for local
bands to thrive while also providing
a place for bigger bands to
play for their adoring fans. With a
small seating area in the back and
a couple tables, the Metro is a majority
standing venue but due to
its size no matter where you are,
you will receive a fantastic concert
experience. The Metro houses
many different genres of music
so it is likely you will be able to
find a show that fits your style, be
it the softest of jazz or the most
pulverizing of metal. The majority
of their shows are all ages with
the only exception being their DJ
nights, which are 21 and over.
Baltimore Soundstage
Located near the Baltimore
Harbor, Baltimore Soundstage is
a medium-sized venue that allows
for an ambient experience that
leaves room for you to hang out
in the back and watch the show
in the front. Separated into two
floors, The Soundstage is a larger
venue while not being too big that
you won’t be able to see the band.
It also provides concertgoers with
a small lounge area to the side of
the venue for those who wish to
have a great view of the show but
not stand up front the whole time.
The Soundstage houses many musical
performances from the latest
metal bands and hardcore punk
bands, to popular country artists,
pop sensations, and 21+ DJ
nights. But the Soundstage does
not only have music. Sometimes,
the venue houses comedians and
dance nights.
Pie Shop
Voted DC’s Best Pie by WCP
13 times, Pie Shop is not only a
well established dispensary for
both sweet and savory pies, but
a bustling venue that provides a
place for local and smaller bands
to perform. Located directly
above the critically acclaimed
shop, the venue portion is, while
on the smaller side, an intimate
space that makes up for its small
size in its professional sound
production and visual effects. It
provides a large outer area with
benches where you can hang out
with friends before going in and
seeing the bands. Much like its
pie, the Pie Shop delivers a variety
in its music. This musical variety
ranges from metal, alternative,
and rock music from local and
non-local talent. If you or your
friends are in a band and looking
for places to play, look no further
Google Images
The Pie Shop, a resturant that doubles as a venue for upcoming bands.
than The Pie Shop. It provides a
comfortable and friendly atmosphere
that allows newcomers to
get their legs musically and perform
an awesome show.
Lincoln Theater
Located in Downtown Raleigh
DC, The Lincoln Theater
may be the area’s premier live
music, concerts, and events venue.
This seated venue provides a
comfortable concert experience
with beautiful architecture and
plenty of seating options. This is
a larger venue that provides not
only musical entertainment but
also comedians, musicals, and
immersive experiences. The Lincoln
provides numerous genres
that allows you to find whatever
it is you’re looking for at an affordable
price. The Lincoln was
always a respected venue in its
ongoing 100-year lifespan. It first
began as a place that was widely
regarded as the finest theater for
African American talent and concert
goers alike. The Lincoln was
also a place for the most elite of
Washingtonians with politicians,
boxers, actors, etc. in attendance.
While it may not be as prestigious
as it once was, The Lincoln still
delivers the same musical and
visual quality, unwavering in its
commitment to treat each concertgoer
with the utmost respect.
Baltimore Soundstage is an indoor concert venue located in the Inner Harbor, offering reserved admission.
Upcoming
DMV
Concerts
Tinashe - Nov 1
The Anthem
Erykah Badu - Nov 2
The Theater
Sixpence None The Richer - Nov 3
The Birchmere
Echosmith - Nov 11
Howard Theatre
Doechii - Nov 14
Union Stage
Slowdive - Nov 17
The Anthem
Don Toliver - Nov 8
EagleBank Arena
Adrienne Lenker - Nov 23
The Anthem
Shakira - Nov 25
Capital One Arena
Liz Peterson Photography
Sourced from Google Images
18
The Warrior • Sports
October 31, 2024
Warriors To Face Wootton in Regional Championship
by Emma Link ‘27 and
Molly Schecter ‘27
Few things in all of sports are
more nerve-wracking than a penalty
shootout to decide the winner
of a game. After 100 minutes of
scoreless regular time and overtime,
Sherwood beat Magruder
7-6 in penalties to advance to the
regional championship against
Wootton on Wednesday, October
29. Junior Elise Rogers drilled
her shot into the lower left corner
to beat Magruder. Junior Sydney
Gould made two clutch saves
during the shootout to help Sherwood
secure the win.
Walking up in front of everyone
to take the shot, Rogers knew
she had to score, or else it would
end the season for the Warriors.
She also carried the weight of
a tough 2-1 loss to Magruder
during the regular season. “How
bad we felt after we played our
hearts out in the season game and
lost, and I didn’t ever want to feel
that pain again or cause it for my
team,” said Rogers.
In the first round of playoffs,
the girls won 4-0 at home against
Kennedy. Despite the relatively
easy win, the players knew they
would have to play better if they
Senior defender Keira Whipple takes possession late in the second half against Quince Orchard in the Pink Out game on Oct. 16.
were going to beat a stronger team
in Magruder. With the win against
Magruder, Sherwood advanced
to play Wootton in the regionals
this past Tuesday at Wootton. To
prepare, the team needed to work
on, “finding the width and attacking
the team’s weak side, and our
quick counterattack,” said senior
captain Liat Tuchman.
The playoffs bring the pressure
of knowing it might be the
last game of the year. “We need to
lock in and play for each other to
bring 100-percent energy. It’s win
or go home,” said senior captain
Candace Woods.
The Warriors ended their regular
season with a 7-5 record, in
which they scored 40 goals with
only 15 scored against them. The
overall result is impressive given
that several key starters from last
season graduated. As a result, the
starting lineup included an unusually
high number of sophomores
and juniors.
Zach Geller
Even in games that the team
lost this season, the scores were
notably closer than games against
the same opponents last year.
With many players returning next
year, the signs are apparent that
Sherwood is ready to compete
against the programs in the county.
Girls in Athletics Club
Empowers Athletes
Thursday Night Lights
Shortage of referees forces changes to football schedules in Montgomery County.
by Cara Farr ‘27
Last year, MCPS struggled to
have the proper number of five to
seven referees for varsity football
games, and occasionally as few as
three refs officiated a game. In order
to combat the referee shortage
throughout the county, MCPS required
each high school this season
to host one football game on
a Thursday night.
According to Athletic Director
Jason Woodward, each high
school had to choose one game
to be played on a Thursday night.
He said that due to a combination
of different factors such as opening
night, the homecoming game,
and senior night, Sherwood selected
to host a nearby rival, Magruder,
for their Thursday night
home game on September 19.
However, the Warriors ended
up having a Thursday night
game on four different weeks this
season. Two of these occurred in
the second and eighth week of the
season, due to Paint Branch and
Walter Johnson choosing to host
Sherwood for their Thursday
night home games. Sherwood
also had to play a Thursday night
game against Damascus on October
10 due to the Jewish holiday
Yom Kippur beginning on that
Friday, October 11.
Since Paint Branch and Walter
Johnson chose their home
games against Sherwood for their
Thursday night games, The Warriors
had one less practice and
prep day before those two weeks.
Sherwood ended up losing 21-20
against Paint Branch on Thursday,
September 12. “We also
have a choice to play on Saturday
afternoons instead of Thursday
nights but that adds more stress
to the players and coaching staff
to plan for the following week
since you would lose a practice
and prep day,” said Woodward.
However, there are similar
disadvantages to playing on
Thursday nights. “It’s definitely
harder to come fully prepared
for a game when we can’t have
our four practices that week,”
Matthew Leighton-Jones ‘25
explained senior captain Brendan
Heyer, who explained that
the football team has to use time
more efficiently in practices because
they have to fit four practice
plans into only three days.
Heyer mentioned that the
increased number of Thursday
night games is not ideal for the
students and for the players. After
some of the games, fans and
players might not get home until
past eleven and possibly even later
depending on where the game
had taken place, and the traffic after
the games. “It sucks having to
wake up early the next morning
all bruised up and having to limp
around the halls from the game
the night before,” he said.
Unfortunately for students,
staff, and athletes, Thursday night
games are something they can expect
in Montgomery County, and
even across the state for the foreseeable
future. ‘Thursday Night
Lights’ will be a part of high
school football unless counties
are able to secure more officials.
by Ziv Golan ‘26
Female athletes have frequently
been the target of gender-based
discrimination and
are often not given access to the
proper education or resources
needed to succeed. These factors
and more led to the creation of
the Girls in Athletics Club, which
is new to Sherwood this school
year. It is described as a space for
female athletes to discuss shared
experiences and offer support
to each other. The club is sponsored
by Health teacher Claudia
Wilks and was started by junior
and cross country and track star,
Madeline Quirion, who serves as
the club’s president.
“I personally have always
really enjoyed participating in
athletics; I grew up playing several
sports,” said Quirion. “As I
got older I noticed two things:
that fewer and fewer girls were
participating in sports every year,
and that my teammates often
struggled with health issues like
period loss and malnutrition that
none of us were very educated
about. Through a bit of research,
I learned these challenges are
very common among all female
athletes. I believe a huge cause
of these issues is misinformation
and a lack of open discussion. I
founded GiA to confront these issues
in the Sherwood community
through education and support,
with the help of my fellow SHS
female athletes.”
The club is set to meet once
a month to discuss any issues
members have noticed along with
planning service projects. “One
upcoming project we’re really
looking forward to is our Rosa
Parks field trip. We will be sending
a couple of athletes to visit
every girl’s sports team at RPMS
to discuss mental and physical
health issues female athletes often
face, how to manage them and
encourage the girls to stay active
as they get older,” said Quirion.
By informing middle schoolers
about issues female athletes
face there is hope that change can
be made in the future as these students
will feel like their struggles
are being validated. Through an
Instagram page, the club hopes
to highlight the success of female
athletes at Sherwood, giving
them well-deserved attention and
respect, and also providing role
models for younger girls to look
up to.
Quirion also hopes to give a
voice in the club to female athletes
from all Sherwood sports.
This way all female athletes will
be able to become better informed
about the struggles many of them
share.
“I’ve had some great conversations
with girls at school about
the issues GiA is founded to combat,”
observed Quirion. “Almost
everyone I’ve talked to has at one
point experienced health issues
as a result of having a poor diet or
intentionally not eating enough.”
She added that a lot of female
athletes severely underestimate
the amount of food a girl who
works out every day should be
eating and that some are over-exercising.
The Warrior • Sports
October 31, 2024
Girls Volleyball Sets Sights on Success
by Madelyn Awwad ‘27
and Cara Farr ‘27
After an up and down season,
the program finishes out strong
with a huge 3-0 win in the last
game of the regular season against
Damascus. Finishing the season
9-5, the team has high expectations
heading into playoffs despite
their deceptively mediocre
record. The Warriors were heavy
favorites in their first-round playoff
game at home against Blake
on October 30. They will play
the winner of the Rockville-Magruder
match in the second round,
most likely away at Magruder.
After going multiple games
alternating between a win and a
loss, the team was able to string
together four wins in the last five
games to end the season. Two
tough wins in the regular season
came against Walter Johnson
and Blair. During the annual
“Dig Pink” game against Blair
on October 9, the Warriors won
in four sets. This win was especially
impressive because heading
into that game, Blair was 8-1
with their only loss being Richard
Montomery, who are the reigning
state champions.
The girls have their sights set
on winning the regional championship,
despite many tough
opponents that they would need
to face. “We have a lot of good
teams in our region, but I absolutely
think we have a great
shot at winning the region,” said
Coach Kaitlyn Jain. Assistant
Coach Megan Brady agreed that
Sophmore Kenley Jacobs with a strong serve in a 3-1 win facing Blair.
there are a lot of strong teams in
the region but also that there is “a
ton of talent in our gym.”
Jain said the playoffs require
the team to go hard after every
ball as well as be more consistent
and always ready to play. Brady
also hinted at similar expectations
of hustle. “I want to see them go
out on the court for every practice
and every game and then walk out
with their heads held high,” said
Brady. “That mindset will push
them through playoffs.”
Senior Vlada Costenco emphasizes
the importance of energy on
the court. “We need to keep up
our energy and communicate,”
she said. “Making sure we don’t
get in our heads is important, so
we can put bad plays in the past.”
Senior Makayla Songco agreed
“Communication is key on the
volleyball court; that is something
I believe we can always work
on,” she said. “Energy played a
large role in those wins, and so
did working well as a team.”
HIGHLIGHTS
Nick Hammond
In Cross Country, the boys team is loaded with freshmen and sophomores
and the team placed 8th at the Montgomery Country
Championships and went undefeated in their division. At Counties,
senior Jackson Schade was the top finisher for the Warriors with a
time of 16:56.
The girls team finished 11th of 23 teams, with junior Maddy Quirion
finishing 2nd in a race with 178 girls. Her time of 18:43.00 is the third
fastest time run on the Borher Park course, according to Athletic.
net.
The 3A West Championship meet takes place today at Utica Park
in Frederick, and the boys team is expected to qualify for the state
championship meet on November 9 at Hereford High School.
Co-Ed Golf team completed its season with an 11-7 record, an 8-win
improvement from a season ago. The team also had the 3rd best
scoring average in the county for the season. The season was highlighted
by winning their final match, defeating Wootton, Poolesville,
and Churchill. Senior Corey Abod led the way this season with a
scoring average of 37.50 over 6 matches highlighted with 4 rounds
in the 30s.
Taking the top 4 scores, the Sherwood team shot a 324 which resulted
in a 4th place finish in the county to qualify the team for the
Maryland State Tournament, held October 28 at the Maryland Golf
Course. Congratulations to the state qualifiers: Corey Abod, senior,
CJ Tonnesen, junior Evan Bonnett, sophomore Yitian Xie, freshman
Gia Mantzouranis, and sophomore Chase Althouse as an alternate.
19
Perspective
The Caps Are Back
by Ryan Green ‘26
The Washington Capitals struggled through most of last regular
season, finishing with an overall losing record and squeaking into the
playoffs. After a disappointing, though maybe predictable, post-season
when Washington were swept 4-0 by New York Rangers, the best
overall record in the regular season. The Caps and their fans are hoping
for improvement. It has been six years since the Caps won the Stanley
Cup and it’s mostly been mediocre seasons since then, but there are a
number of reasons why this year should be exciting.
Although the centerpiece of the Capitals remains 39-year-old captain
Alexander Ovechkin, who has led the team in goals every year
since the 2007-2008 season. Failing to score in the series against the
Presidents’ Trophy winner New York Rangers, the team made acquisitions
during the offseason to shape the Caps into a new and improved
team. The Capitals mix of experienced veterans and promising young
talent hope to bring the heat one last time and compete for the Stanley
Cup.
As the metropolitan division continues to secure its spot as a top
division, Washington needs an intense offense to navigate the offensive
zone. The legendary play of Ovechkin will either have the team
succeed or decline as he continues to defy age, being an astounding
39 years old. Averaging .60 goals per game, the captain is on track to
break the prolific career goal record of 894 currently held by Wayne
Gretzky. But the Capitals need more than just a legend. Capitals GM
Chrish Patrick acquired star forward Pierre-Luc Dubois and forward
Andrew Mangiapane to help assist the captain. Not to mention their 1st
round draft pick, Ryan Leonard, who currently sits at 47 points in 29
games played in the NCAA D1 hockey. Washington also supplemented
its forward depth by signing Brandon Duhaime and Taylor Raddysh.
On the defensive side of the ice, the Capitals have made strategic
moves to hold the blue line. Clutching the defensive core together is
strong two-way defenseman John Carlson. But the same theme of getting
old resonates through the whole team. Carlson is 34 years old and
on the backend of his career. The Caps picked up young defenseman
Jakob Chychrun to fix this current issue, who team president Brian
MacLellan has praised for his “ ability to jump in the play.” Blending
the youth and veteran defense is vital for protecting the goaltender
and keeping goals out. Washington also signed Logan Thompson, the
young netminder helps provide stability and more potential for a deep
playoff run.
The new season might be one remembered for the ages. The Washington
Capitals seem equipped with enough talent to be a surprise in
the NHL. If you’re not already on the Caps’ bandwagon, hop on now
early in the season so you don’t miss the excitement.
MCPS is First in Country with
Pickleball as a Varsity Sport
by Chase Sondike ‘26
MCPS is setting a precedent
for other school districts across
the nation by adding pickleball
as a varsity corollary sport this
fall. The sport of pickleball is experiencing
exponential growth,
with nearly 50 million American
adults playing this past year. Not
only is the game popular among
adults, but kids are also getting
in on the fun. In fact, Sherwood’s
coach, Rob Campbell, had to
make cuts at the tryouts because
there was greater interest than the
available number of spots on the
roster.
The captain of the pickleball
team this year, senior Ryan
Corkery, is no stranger to the upand-coming
sport. Corkery, who
was on the pilot pickleball team
last year, has his sights set on a
triumphant season, saying that of
course, the goal was to go undefeated
and win the final tournament.
“We also want to increase
the number of eyes on high school
pickleball,” Corkery said. “Being
the first county in the nation to
have varsity pickleball, we are all
in a unique spot to be at the forefront
of the growth of high school
pickleball.” The introduction of
pickleball in MCPS is a testament
to its relevance in today’s sports
world. Pickleball serves as a fun
yet competitive sport which also
has many social benefits and an
engaging atmosphere.
Pickleball is a corollary sport
in MCPS, which means it is designed
to help provide equal opportunities
for students with and
without disabilities. Half of each
Pickleball roster in every MCPS
school will have corollary students
and the other half will be
made up of non-corollary students.
The objective of corollary
sports is to enhance participation
in extramural athletics for all
students, particularly those with
disabilities. Pickleball was added
to the expanding list of varsity
corollary sports in MCPS, joining
Bocce and Allied Softball.
Campbell emphasized that
his goal as the coach is a blend
of competition and enjoyment.
“I want to create an environment
where players can have fun
while still striving for success
and getting better,” he said. This
particular approach also reflects
the sport’s growing popularity,
to which Campbell credits the
game’s accessibility. “Pickleball
is easy to learn and an overall fun
to play game, making it appealing
to a wide range of age groups.”
20
The Warrior • Sports
October 31, 2024
Sherwood Faces Undefeated QO in Season Finale
by Reid Duvall ‘27
Varsity football is off to its
best start since the 2017-2018
season with seven wins and just
one loss, punctuated with a 47-
19 road win against WJ. The
team took a week 2 loss to Paint
Branch personally, and has been
unstoppable since. In the sixgame
win streak, the Warriors
have outscored opponents by
190 points. They have held other
teams to just 45 points, the same
amount they gave up in the first
two games against Rockville and
Paint Branch. “We continue to
work on the fundamentals that allow
us to play fast and physical,”
said Coach Pat Cilento.
The improvements from last
year’s younger team can be seen
in how Sherwood dominated
Blake and Gaithersburg who they
lost to last season. They also added
blowout wins against Poolesville
and at home against Damascus.
Against Walter Johnson,
Sherwood established their momentum
early as they got out to a
20-6 lead at the half. On the opening
play of the 2nd half, sophomore
quarterback Matt Larsen
threw a screen pass to senior,
Jaden Nix, who took it 65 yards
to the endzone to give the Warriors
a 27-6 lead. Later on in the
game, a pick-six by senior safety,
MCPS Kicks Off Its First
Season of Flag Football
by Maya Dorsam ‘27
Brendan Heyer gave the team a
34-6 lead. After 13 more points in
the 4th quarter, the Warriors blew
the game open for the 47-19 win.
“We moved the ball well and we
got to their quarterback early,”
said Quarterback Matt Larsen.
The conclusion of the season
is against an 8-0 Quince Orchard
team that is possibly the best in
the state and just added a win
over Northwest, another top team
This year, MCPS added flag
football to its list of sports offered
to female athletes in the county.
After a long wait, girls couldn’t
be more excited to participate in
the sport that is offered to their
male counterparts, with a few differences
in rules and strategy.
Increasing interest across
the nation led MCPS, Washington,
and Baltimore Counties in
Maryland to take after Fredrick
County’s debut of the sport last
season which ended successfully,
with 280 girls participating in the
league. Twenty-eight states offer
forms of flag football for girls
and it’s even set to become an
Olympic sport at the 2028 games,
which come to Los Angeles in
just a few summers.
The opportunity brought to
many Maryland schools is made
possible by the sponsorship of the
Baltimore Ravens and Under Armour,
which will provide financial
grants towards the costs of
uniforms, coaching salaries, and
team transportation. Their hope is
to produce leaders, grow the love
of the sport, and grant girls the
opportunity to play football just
as boys are.
The flag football games are
7 on 7 with two halves compared
to four quarters. The offense
will progress down the field as it
achieves first downs, given 4 attempts.
Rather than tackling the
player in possession of the ball to
stop the play, their flag must be
pulled.
The Sherwood team is
mostly composed of upperclassmen,
according to social studies
teacher Caitlin Thompson, who
stepped up to coach the girls this
year alongside Rob Hiller, another
social studies teacher at the
school.
“The fall is the beginning of
the school year, and so often of
new experiences, new social settings,
and new challenges,” said
Thompson about why flag football
is a good addition to MCPS
sports, “This game means it’s also
a time of opportunities for female
athletes to be part of something.”
in the county. The Quince Orchard
program has been a powerhouse
in the state of Maryland,
while producing a selection of
big-time collegiate talent. Before
their playoff loss to Northwest
last season, Quince Orchard had
a 39-game winning streak including
4A state championships in the
2021-2022 season and the 2022-
2023 season. This year’s team is
no slouch, only allowing 20 points
Senior Wide Receiver Avery Graham running the ball against Magruder.
Thompson expressed that her
motivation for coaching the team
was the exciting new challenge
it presented. She admits that she
is new to the game, but Hiller,
her coaching partner, contributes
to the team greatly by bringing
critical football experience. The
girls are learning and progressing
quickly as they practice skills and
big-picture schemes each day.
Junior Maryam Habib said
that Thompson expects full effort
and gives helpful constructive
criticism to better the girls. The
sport is no joke; playing time
won’t be given out freely.
“This is a varsity sport,” said
Thompson. “Athletes earn their
playing time with skill, effort, and
dedication.”
Cliff Vacin ‘25
Safety Brendan Heyer running in a touchdown in a dominant 41-7 win against a now 5-3 Damascus.
Zach Geller ‘25
all season, and is the top-ranked
public school in Maryland. Sherwood
currently stands ranked 2nd
among 3A high school football
teams in Maryland.
“Each week we have an opportunity
to showcase our talents,”
said Cilento. “We don’t
focus that much on our opponents
but rather on what we can improve
on to become better. Our
last two opponents present some
challenges, but we will be prepared
for both of them.”
The team seems unfazed by
challenging programs, like 5-3
Damascus and the 6-2 Blake Bengels,
dominating these teams with
scores of 41-7 and 24-0 respectively.
The Warriors went on a 4-0
win streak that carried through
weeks four through seven, with
their defense holding all four
teams to a combined seven points.
“Everyone is contributing,
from the scout team guys in practice
that give us a great look to the
guys that are on the field on Friday
nights. Each week it is a new
person that stands out. The team
continues to perfect their craft so
they can excel.” said Cilento.
Sherwood’s playoff success
has been limited in recent years.
They have made the state quarterfinals
twice and the state semifinal
once since 2010, and last
won the state championship in
2008. It has been a staggering 16
years since Sherwood football has
claimed a championship, and 14
years since the last state semifinal
appearance. This year may be
different. The Warriors are looking
to prove themselves in the
playoffs. Sherwood has a shot at
breaking through in the playoffs,
and a strong performance against
QO will be a signal.
Boys Soccer Advance To Play
Kennedy in Regional Finals
by Andrew Fenner ‘27 and
Chase Sondike ‘26
After a tough 1-0 loss to Churchill
to close out the regular season,
Sherwood finished the regular
season with a 7-5 record that
was a mix of highs and lows. If
the Warriors felt any uncertainty
going into the playoffs, they
shook off the doubts with a commanding
3-0 home win against
Magruder in the first round, and
a win against Rockville 3-2 in the
second round.
Senior right back Adam Levy
said the win against Rockville
was big for their momentum because
although Rockville’s record
was subpar, they were a strong
team. “They were our biggest test
of the season,” Levy said.
In the Regional Final, the Warriors
played Kennedy, who they
lost to in overtime in the regular
season. “We are a different team
than when we played them earlier
in the season,” said Coach
Paul Homon. “Our defensive
scheme is solid, and we have had
strong goalkeeping play down the
stretch. Kennedy has had great
play from their wingers so we
need to make sure we don’t give
them too much space to create.”
Levy said the Regional Final
game is an opportunity to show
Sherwood’s growth as a soccer
program. “Kennedy sent us home
last year, which is why this game
is so big.” Levy said that as long
as Sherwood is able to stay organized
and play their game, they
would have a shot.
Perhaps the biggest highlight
of the season was defeating the
defending 3A state champion Damascus
in overtime 2-1 at home
on October 7. Homon said the
win was a testament to the growth
of the squad as the season progressed.
“The team realized when
we play as a unit, move the ball
quickly, and look to find teammates
… we can be very dangerous.”
Last year boys soccer went
4-7-1 in the regular season and
lost in the first round of the playoffs.
This year, with a deeper core
and vast improvement on the offensive
and defensive sides of the
ball, there was always potential
for a deep playoff run. Regarding
the refinement on the defensive
end, Senior midfielder Alex
Welch said the boost was “due to
our increased focus on communication.”
Homon agreed, and said that
the team has “had a goal all season
to be better at communicating
on the field and it shows.”
Sherwood only allowed 14 goals
through their 12 regular season
games this year, a big leap from
last year’s team that allowed 14
goals in just their first 7 games.
On the frontline, junior striker
Caleb Alie was a key factor and
crucial for the team’s offensive
output throughout the regular season,
helping lead them to a winning
record. Notably, the offense
this year has scored 28 goals,
twice as many goals as last year’s
team strung together.