Rank & File

Renovations and a rising student population turned Lunch & Learn into an outdated system. Though Lunch & Learn became impractical due to the current conditions of the school, the administration still wanted to encourage students to take time during the school day to get additional help or ahead on school work, resulting in the creation of the Learn period. Learn is a concept that all Statesmen had to adjust to, and as the year progresses, its benefits and flaws are manifesting themselves.

Renovations and a rising student population turned Lunch & Learn into an outdated system. Though Lunch & Learn became impractical due to the current conditions of the school, the administration still wanted to encourage students to take time during the school day to get additional help or ahead on school work, resulting in the creation of the Learn period. Learn is a concept that all Statesmen had to adjust to, and as the year progresses, its benefits and flaws are manifesting themselves.

From the self-immolation and death of Tunisian street merchant Mohammed Bouazizi, which catapulted the Arab world and greater Middle East to the forefront of revolution and even civil war, to the European debt crisis, which plagued European Union nations like Greece with a social discord equal to that of some Middle Eastern countries, 2011 was far from quiet. Greater solidifying 2011 as a crucial year for world affairs was the near-complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and the death of Osama bin Laden, Moammar Gaddafi and Kim Jong-Il.

Biology, chemistry, physics. Sound familiar? The latter are possible science classes that one could take at Marshall. But just over the summer, a new alternative was made available by one of our very own physics teachers, Ms. Janet Kahn. Enter the Pulsar Search Collaboratory! This group of students represents Marshall in the national PSC, which consists of a multitude of high schools. To enter the group, students must pass two tests where they score data charts on how close it resembles a pulsar. After they pass, they are allowed to access data from the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia.

The dark screen suddenly brightens to reveal two cars screeching across the racetrack, hurtling closer and closer to the camera. Just when the pair appear to be on the verge of colliding with the cameraman, the two cars swerve and continue whizzing down the racetrack.

Senior Nathaniel Chen shot this scene in Englishtown, NJ, and incorporated it into his film “Drift,” a montage of drifting culture. The film placed second in the 2010 Video Fairfax Competition and Chen expects to compete again.

As a senior on the 2006 varsity boys’ basketball team, Daniel Dixon may not have known that, after hours of practice that led his team to the state finals, he would return to the basketball program as a coach for the 2011-2012 season.

Dixon, along with former teammate Qaiser Ahmed came back this year to coach, taking over the assistant freshman and assistant JV coaching positions, respectively.

Having on-the-court experience at the school, Dixon said, gives you “an understanding of who Marshall is.”

Ahmed also noted the benefits of coaching after experiencing the player’s role.

As a senior on the 2006 varsity boys’ basketball team, Daniel Dixon may not have known that, after hours of practice that led his team to the state finals, he would return to the basketball program as a coach for the 2011-2012 season.

Dixon, along with former teammate Qaiser Ahmed came back this year to coach, taking over the assistant freshman and assistant JV coaching positions, respectively.

Having on-the-court experience at the school, Dixon said, gives you “an understanding of who Marshall is.”
Ahmed also noted the benefits of coaching after experiencing the player’s role.

Grand Revival, junior Nate Wilkinson’s band, put on an energetic and surprisingly well put-together set on Nov. 21 at Jammin’ Java in Vienna. Wilkinson is the lead guitarist for the blues and hard rock foursome which is comprised of members from various regional high schools.

FCPS has reason to be proud what it has achieved with its new FCPS Google Apps. Faculty and students now have a powerful suite of professional software at their fingertips. FCPS’ new Google Apps network is a strong step in a smart direction, but it needs work and time before it becomes useful. At the moment the Apps implementation is underpowered.

Martin Scorsese, the man who directed famous blockbusters such as Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980) and Goodfellas (1990) has recently stepped out of his comfort zone to unleash his first 3-D film Hugo.