The ARGS

May 2016

Dragon’s Lair Proudly keeping the ARGS community in touch with the fantastic achievements of our students and staff. -Dr. James M. Victory

Picture by Rebecca Lovelace (Richmond)

C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S C A S S I E IN THIS ISSUE: Congratulations Cassie

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ARGS Athletics

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More Athletics!

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Congrats

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Techies and Surveys

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Service 6 It’s Lit

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Taking the Stage

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Inductions

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Horoscopes

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Our School Song

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Appoma ◊ tto y g o

chool fo r t he ’s S or

al Gove gion rn e xR

By Anisa Isaac (Prince George) Cassie Williamson (Powhatan) is a senior visual arts major and the only high school student to receive a $4,000 fellowship grant from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts this year. They give grants to undergraduates, college students, high school seniors, and professional artists to fund their work. The portfolio she submitted consisted of mixed media, primarily photography and sculpture, which was inspired by her whimsical and fantastical approach to art. “I like the idea of other worlds...I guess it’s because it kind of goes with my personality. I love exploration, imagination and creativity,” she elaborated on what influenced her while creating her portfolio. Her sculptures were made from earthy materials like dryer lint and tree bark which pairs well with their organic shapes. Since a very young age, Cassie has always been interested in art. Her interest started in art class at her elementary school, then her arrival at ARGS refined her artwork. Making artwork is instinctual to her; it’s as if creativity is in her genes. Sculpture is her favorite form to work in and her favorite medium is stuck between clay, fibers, and photography (mainly directing and setting the scene). After honing her artistic skills over the years, Cassie’s work paid off with the fellowship grant. “The notoriety from the program is a huge stepping stone for me, because it gives me assocation to graduates and professionals,” she mentioned. On February 17th, there was a reception for the winners and local legislators that even the governor, Terry McAuliffe, attended at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They had a fellowship briefing, socialized, and toured the Rodin exhibit. Not only did she win a significant amount of money, but the experience made her evaluate what she wanted to do with art.

“It made me realize why I do art, and it’s for that interaction,” Cassie added. She wants to make art more hands-on like her favorite game developers, Toca Boca and Media Molecule. Toca Boca has many apps that are innovating with the interaction between the player and game to be more creative, as well as Media Molecule that made the game Little Big World. Cassie eventually wants to enter the field of digital interactive design and work for a creative gaming company. Creating kid’s illustrations and little sculptures on Etsy is what Cassie wants to do on the side. For now, she’s sending art portfolios to colleges such as her top choice, SCAD, The Savannah College of Art and Design, which she wants to use the fellowship grant to pay towards. With a creative and artistic mind, Cassie is on her way to innovating how we look at art.

VMFA reception. Provided by Ms. Lyons.

nd Tech n ts a o l Ar

Appomattox Regional Governor’s School 512 W. Washington St. Petersburg, VA 23803 Office Hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Mon.-Fri. Phone: 804-722-0200

A R G S AT H L E T I C S ARGS Soccer By John Eliades (Hopewell) Soccer season has begun! The soccer team held tryouts at the end of February and kept twenty one. There were lots of new and old faces at tryouts this year. There was a lot of interest in playing soccer. There were twenty five people that tried out. One third of all who tried out were freshmen. That is a sign that the soccer team’s future is very bright. “The ARGS soccer team is very young or you could say ‘green’ at some positions. The future looks bright for the team, but if we keep working hard and not settling for just being average, that future could happen sooner than some may expect. We have most of the pieces, we just have to put them in the right spot and that piece has to realize they are just as important as every other piece,” said Coach Cancino. Freshmen: Mason Wood (Prince George) John Eliades (Hopewell) Caleb Collins (Dinwiddie) Robert Timberline (Richmond) Richard Bishop (Prince George) Sophomores: Bain Kvasnicka (Prince George) Evan Tyler (Petersburg) Patrick Jones (Dinwiddie) Sara Burns (Chesterfield) Joy Ochieng (Chesterfield) Juniors: Faheem Farooq (Chesterfield) Thomas Eliades (Hopewell)

Appomattox

Regional

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Governor’s

School

Administration Dr. James M. Victory Mr. Larry Joyner Ms. Veronica Kouassi

Executive Director Assistant Director Assistant Director

The Dragon’s Lair Editorial Staff Sahara Sidi (Colonial Heights) Zoe Pierson (Chesterfield) Rae Henderson (Dinwiddie) Fahima Downey (Petersburg) C.J. Lockhart (Dinwiddie) Mr. Jason Taylor

Head Editor Assistant Editor Layout Editor Asst. Layout Editor Photography Editor Original Design

Backhand Beauties By: Rae Henderson (Dinwiddie) ARGS already has an amazing array of beautiful women that are talented in a multitude of things, but there is always a group that bonds together pretty well. Our girls tennis team have improved greatly as more and more players win and compete. Tabitha Pagan (Dinwiddie), gave us her thoughts on the team and the season. “I think that the team is doing pretty well. We’ve had clean wins and we hope to continue on the winning streak that we have started.” The team has the same goals and hopes to prosper in the future. They are sisters to one another and believe that with their sisterhood bond, will allow them to rely on one another more to push themselves into becoming better players.

Tennis Roster: Caroline Rhodes (Hopewell) Sarah Seward (Surry) Tabitha Pagan (Dinwiddie) Sahara Sidi (Colonial Heights) Arianna Moore (Chesterfield) Tozeane “Taj” Samuels (Richmond) Carol Avery (Petersburg) Darby Lindsay (Surry)

Caroline Rhodes. Photo courtesy of Ms. Giewont

Seniors: Mateo Salas (Hopewell) Cole Patrick (Chesterfield) Claudia Altman (Hopewell) Will Watkins (Surrey) Skye Shannon (Richmond) Andrew Wilson (Chesterfield) David Robinson (Petersburg) Olivia Nash (Richmond) Bryan Hudgins (Petersburg)

(Players at the beginning of the season) There are ten underclassmen and a few players who haven’t played soccer in a very long time. Our coaches are working really hard to train everyone in the position they play. Soccer Team. Photo courtesy of LifeTouch

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M O R E AT H L E T I C S ! ARGS Tennis Team in for Another Great Season! by Genny Davis (Chesterfield) The boy’s tennis team is diving into another great season. So far the team has won four games with many more to play. Team captain, Brenton Baugh (Chesterfield) was very passionate when talking to me about the team. “I am honored to be one of the captains. I love being able to work with the coaches and the girls captain to help us improve, have a memorable season, and make us a team,” he said. For a typical away game, the team leaves about an hour early from school.

When they arrive by bus they stretch, warm up, then get fired up for their match. Brenton and Coach Merrill often give their players mental tips before the game. After, on the bus, the team often contemplates their game, and Brenton will ask, “What did we do right, what did we do wrong, and how we fix what went wrong and continue upon what went right?” “‘Follow through’ is the only quote we live by,” said Logan Johnson (Chesterfield), new to the tennis team this year, “when you hit the ball, it’s

so important to follow through on your swing, remember that, man.” Azeem Holland (Hopewell), another player, told me, “I just love tennis,” with a shrug. After being asked what he has learned from tennis, Brenton said, “I learned how to play tennis: how to do the correct stroke, how to be mentally fit, and how to be part of a team.”

Boys’ Tennis Team. Photo Courtesy of Ms. Giewont

Ms. Face Gets Published! By Rachel Robinson Ms. Face was recently published in Chicken Soup for the Soul, an anthology of children’s stories. Her piece was written right after she became a mother, when she was on maternity leave and got little to no sleep; this inspired the title, “Sleepless Nights”. It was also inspired by a conversation she had with her mother, who said, “Don’t be rude to the people trying to help you.” Ms. Face was thrilled to find out her piece was being published in the anthology, a real honor. “It

makes me happy I’ll be able to share it with my son one day,” she said, “although he will probably be embarrassed that I wrote about him instead of flattered. Isn’t that the way it works when kids get older?” All the proceeds from Chicken Soup for the Soul are going to the Boys and Girls Clubs, so please, if you want to support these clubs and see Ms. Face’s work, buy the newest edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Congratulations Ms. Face!

Ms. Face. Photo courtesy of Ms. Face

http://www.tidewaternews.com/2016/04/01/localwriter-published-in-chicken-soup-for-the-soul/

C O N G R AT S

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Our PTSA Winners! By Rachel Robinson

This year, the PTSA reflection program had the theme “Let Your Imagination Fly.” We had three ARGS students place in the district - Kendrick Wheat (Hopewell), Ashana Jackson (Chesterfield), and Preston Twisdale (Dinwiddie). Kendrick placed second in visual art. When asked why he entered the contest, he replied, “My digital photography teacher, Mrs. Lyons, thought it would be a great idea for me to enter.” He went on, revealing that the picture was originally for a project in digital photography, but after being told about the contest, he made a few adjustments to his piece and submitted it. He stated, “I feel fortunate to finish second, and I feel honored to represent ARGS in the contest as well.” Ashana Jackson placed second in literature. She entered the contest when Ms. G requested she did. “I was inspired when I was walking in the

rain one day,” she said. “I saw a couple bugs scurrying under some rocks, trying to shield themselves from the rain. So I decided to write about how much the rain could destroy a tiny insect’s life.” Ashana said she felt great about placing second, and confessed she didn’t expect she would place at all. She also expressed gratitude towards Ms. Giewont, since without her persuasion, Ashana wouldn’t have entered. Preston Twisdale placed first in the district for his citizenship essay. “I entered the contest for extra credit in Ms. Giewont’s class,” he said. “Dinwiddie’s lack of infrastructure inspired me pretty hard, and I’m very happy that a paper I had done for extra credit was a district champion paper.” Congratulations to these winners for placing and representing ARGS!

PTSA Ceremony Photos by Ms. G

Dragon Scales Scores Big in New Jersey By Rachel Robinson (Chesterfield) and C.J. Lockhart (Dinwiddie) Dragon Scales, ARGS’ talented a cappella team, travelled up to New Jersey on March 19th for the Mid-Atlantic Semifinals held by the ICHSA (International Championship of High School A Cappella). There, they performed A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got) by Fergie, followed by a new selection, Like I’m Gonna Lose You by Meghan Trainor and John Legend. The team finished the competition off with a crowd favorite, a Jason Derulo medley, created by Dragon Scales’ own music directors, Lindy Pokorny (Chesterfield) and Brett Baboorian (Chesterfield). It was a great feat, seeing as it was only Dragon Scales’ second year competing. They placed 3rd out of the eight competing groups from the MidAtlantic Region. Lindy Pokorny and Jessica Beaudet (Prince George) were awarded a certificate for “Most Outstanding Choreography” at the award ceremony of the competition. This concluded the competing aspect of the A capella season, but the year isn’t over! There will be a final concert on April, 20th, so you still have time to see this year’s Dragon Scales perform. Congratulations to Dragon Scales for their success this year!

Dragon Scales Concert Photos by Mrs. Morrison

TECHIES AND SURVEYS VA STAR Meeting

Sleep Study

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By Anisa Isaac (Prince George)

By Lindy Pokorny (Chesterfield)

The Virginia Student Training and Refurbishment Program, better known as VA STAR, had their annual meeting in Richmond. It was held at the Omni Hotel, where they had a luncheon after they went to the General Assembly Building to lobby senators and delegates. The program teaches students how to refurbish excess computer hardware from governmental agencies and private companies. VA STAR members also learned how to check a computer’s memory and battery, how to put a computer together, and how to reinstall operating systems. The VA STAR program is also looking for other sources of computers to refurbish within the community in which any help would be greatly appreciated.

How many times a day do you hear someone say they’re tired? At this school, the chances are that the number is pretty high. The National Sleep Foundation, a scientific organization that studies and advocates the importance of sleep, recommends that teens get 8-10 hours of sleep per night. This improves biological functions and helps teens manage stress. I sent out a poll to the ARGS student body to determine how many students live within the guidelines recommended to maintain safety and health by the National Sleep Foundation.

Representatives for every participating district lobbied delegates to continue funding for the VA STAR program. At their networking lunch, the representatives talked about how their districts benefit from the program and how they use their grants. Ms. Crowder’s Technology II class went with her to the event as well as Mr. Mulleins, ARGS’ IT Director. They gave our school a grant of $5,000 to go towards renovating the computers to give to nonprofit organizations. ARGS is giving laptops to N.B. Clements Jr. High in Prince George and desktops to an afterschool program in Dinwiddie.

According to the poll, approximately 89% of the student body is not getting the amount of sleep recommended by doctors. That means only 11% of the ARGS population is getting 8 or more hours of sleep a night. The consequences of lack of sleep are numerous: acne, mood swings, weight gain, illness, and even susceptibility to drug and alcohol abuse, to name a few. Lack of sleep has consequences beyond just the health risks. 76% of ARGS students report having fallen asleep in class. This is distressing for teachers and detrimental to students: teachers may feel ignored or unappreciated, and students can miss lessons, harming their grades as a result. Additionally, a terrifying 72% of students that drive said that they have driven while drowsy. Drowsiness causes over 100,000 car crashes a year, and over half of those crashes involve drivers age 25 and younger. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, being awake for 20 hours creates a mental impairment equivalent to a blood-alcohol level of .08: the legal limit. So why aren’t students making sleep a priority? There are several potential reasons. For one, teens are under-informed on the amount of sleep that doctors recommend. 30% of ARGS students believe that they need less than 8 hours of sleep. While we are frequently reminded of things to keep us healthy, like eating nutritional food or washing our hands, it is rare to be reminded of the importance of sleep. Another possibility is that students are intentionally staying awake. While some students may stay awake to watch Netflix or talk to friends, there is an overwhelming amount of students who stay up to complete homework. In fact, 63% of ARGS students reported that homework is more important to them than sleep is. In short, students are sacrificing their health in order to maintain their grades. This induces a cruel kind of irony: lack of sleep can lead to worse grades. A PBS Newshour health study concluded that losing sleep has the same effect on grades as chronic drug and alcohol abuse. The lack of sleep students are experiencing is causing a number of problems already, and has the potential to lead to far more serious consequences. For the most part, students have the power to choose sleep and avoid these issues. But this will never happen if we do not become more informed.

Want to learn more about the args technology department? Check out the blog! http://argstech. blogspot.com/

Rhiannon Edwards (Southampton) “studying” for a test.

Please note all photos were actor portrayal and consented by participants.

Damian Fields (Sussex) resting his eyes in the Literary foyer. All photos taken by C.J. Lockhart

SERVICE Mrs. Rodden’s Goodbye

Cinderella Dress Drive

By Natalia Putnam (petersburg)

by Natalia Putnam (Petersburg)

After midterms, Mrs. Rodden (formerly Ms. Faulcon), World History II and Government teacher, departed from ARGS. She moved to San Francisco with her husband, and is hoping to teach there as well.

Interact recently held a Cinderella Dress Drive throughout ARGS. This collection is going to support the Midlothian group, Cinderella Dreams, which provides prom dresses, accessories and shoes for girls who otherwise can’t afford them. Ms. Padden, the Interact sponsor, chose the group and began planning this drive in early fall.

Sara Burns (Chesterfield), a World History II student, said, “We were all very sad to find out that she was leaving for San Francisco, but at the same time we were happy because of the amazing opportunity she and her husband were given.” Sahara Sidi (Colonial Heights), another World History II student, “will miss Mrs. Rodden’s lectures and class presence.” We all miss Ms. Rodden, but wish her luck in her future career! She was a great contribution to the ARGS faculty!

Ms. Padden says that she chose Cinderella Dreams after hearing about it from a former student who really benefited from the cause. “I’ve heard, ‘I’ve bought this dress for an insane amount of money and it’s been sitting in my closet. So many people have dresses that they’re not doing anything with.” She also mentioned that students in the past, not just at ARGS, have wanted to go to prom, but expenses get in the way. She didn’t want someone to feel like that, that a high school memory everyone

6 should have, should be inhibited by money. Chloe Butler (Chesterfield) was the one to contact the organization directly. In regards to the number of donations, Ms. Padden received dresses from faculty members and former students. She’s even had friends and family reach out with their old formal dresses. The drive ended on February 29th. Interact collected about 20 prom dresses. Ms. Padden will be heading to Midlothian to deliver the dresses. For the first year, the drive went well. Ms. Padden says they will probably continue the drive next year. Thank you to all who donated to this amazing cause!

Ethics Bowl by Natalie Solaja (Chesterfield) This year, the ARGS debate team attended its second annual Ethics Bowl at the Collegiate School, proving that the ARGS team really is a dominant debate team, and this year’s ethics bowl was proof of that.

Mrs. Rodden. Photo by Ms. Giewont

Canned Food Drive by Natalia Putnam (Petersburg) In the spirit of the holiday season, the ARGS ICC (Inter-Club Council) hosted a school-wide canned food drive in the weeks leading up to winter break. However, this year, an incentive was brought into play. The focus area that brought in the most donations would receive extra credit in their English class. In total, ARGS collected around 1500 items. Over 300 of these canned goods were courtesy of the tech majors, who won their well-deserved extra credit. The school’s goal was 350 pounds of food, but we went above and beyond, accumulating 1139 pounds. This food helped support the Central Virginia Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, and the Community Kitchen. Great job, everyone!

During weeks of preparation, the team went into practice competitions with five members on each team. And with some of the competing students being first-time competitors, even debating in practice was nerve-wracking. But luckily, every member of the team performed beautifully in practice. Given a packet of possible topics, students had to be prepared to debate any one of them. Meaning, that students had to thoroughly research about fifteen topics, ranging from cellphones and E-waste, the voting age, racist chants at sporting events, public breastfeeding, and Medicaid for Transgender individuals. With such an array of things to cover, the members of the team’s opinions were tested through discussion, analysis, and overall argument. ARGS students who attended the 2016 Ethics Bowl were Kieara Price (Petersburg), Anne Greenberg (Dinwiddie), Natalie Solaja (Chesterfield), Max Diamond (Chesterfield), Zoe Galanopoulos (Colonial Heights), Faheem Farooq (Chesterfield), Celeste Chalkley (Richmond), Desolina Fletcher (Richmond), and Christian Roessler (Chesterfield).

Members switched out between rounds, being that only five team members could compete on the ARGS team at one time. Other teams competing were the Collegiate School, James River High School, Deep Run High School, and Freeman High School. All proving to be cohesive teams, ARGS went into every round with confidence, even when it felt like some other teams had the upper hand. ARGS fought hard. Every point was supported, there were no rambles, and very little stutters. The dialogue bounced off of one member to the next in such a way that the fluidity of it was hard to miss. As it turns out, due to a mathematical discrepancy, ARGS was eliminated from the final round of the Ethics Bowl by one point. After tying across the board with Freeman in three categories, although ARGS got the most judges votes, when it came down to the actual scoring, Freeman won by one point. At the end of the day, the team was pretty beat, and was okay with going home in third. Even though there were relaxing breaks in between rounds and Chipotle catering, debating for eight hours can prove to be exhausting. Some members, after Ethics Bowl this year, went and got some avocado sushi, and slept until noon Sunday.

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IT’S LIT ASGARD, the It Magazine By Zaria Talley (Petersburg) ARGS is known for its talented students, interactive teachers, and beautiful theatre productions, traits that draw hundreds of kids to apply for entry every year, but there is one hidden gem among the hallways that has received notable praise over the past couple of years. It thrives in the literary arts foyer and reaches out to students of every focus area for their best art, prose, and poetry, with two new genres being introduced for submissions: music and drama. ASGARD, our very own awardwinning literary arts magazine, goes beyond the writing and has a speck of every major and talent that ARGS has to offer. This year’s edition of ASGARD is under the control of Lilith Blackwell, a literary arts senior from Richmond, and Ms. Giewont, an English and literary arts teacher here. Blackwell took on the role of head editor her junior year and was able to spearhead a successful, critically acclaimed magazine with the aid of Ms. Giewont. Last year’s volume of the magazine won multiple multimedia awards, including the highest award, the Trophy Class, from the Virginia High School League and the highest award from the National Council of Teachers of English for the second year in row. “There are only 24 magazines in the country that won [the award from the National Council of Teachers of English] and we did it,” Ms. Giewont said, excitedly. When Blackwell learned that ASGARD had accomplished so much, her first thought was an enthusiastic “yeah.” Ms. Giewont mentioned how happy she gets hearing about the achievements. “I always get nervous, though [at first],” she went on, “but I’m not surprised because I know how much work [the staff] puts into it.” Often, Ms. Giewont finds herself going through the criteria for the awards and making sure that ASGARD fits the bill for each. “I like to win,” she said, laughing.

The road to making a literary magazine with so many accolades wasn’t easy, though. “Compared to my freshman year, when everything was free flowing and there wasn’t much structure, I think, with ASGARD, we’ve gotten older and have learned more about how to go about and approach it,” Blackwell said, continuing that from working on ASGARD, she’s learned many tricks with writing and grammar editing on the spot. Ms. Giewont backed Blackwell’s comments on editing, saying that “you have to do it to learn it.” As a teacher, she has also noticed that the younger students in her literary magazine class have picked up on writing techniques and carried them into their workshop classes, stating, “They learn a lot just listening to [the older students] and it’s good to have that shared experience.” One of the hardest parts of building ASGARD is choosing what pieces make it into the magazine, especially since the staff is very selective. “It’s a portfolio of our school,” Blackwell said, emphasizing, “We’re presenting the best [work] here.” She also told a story of how every year, she looks up the description of the word “Asgard” to prepare for the upcoming magazine edition. “[Asgard is] the guardian of the gods and cultivates the fruits of the other gods,” she explained. Blackwell went on to say that the magazine ASGARD and the student body are related to the actual definition of Asgard, stating, “[ASGARD is] the cultivators of [the students’ writing and art].” Ms. Giewont added that part of the success of ASGARD has to do with the talent that students here at ARGS have. This year’s edition of the magazine has been described by Ms. Giewont as “the largest ASGARD of all time,” due to the amount and length of work that was accepted this year. “[It’s gonna be] so huge,” she said.

Both Blackwell and Ms. Giewont have high hopes for the future of ASGARD as a class and magazine. Blackwell also added to this statement, saying, “[The class] is kind of all of the art classes together - there’s a bit of graphic design, art, writing, and it’s a tech class.” For the magazine itself, Blackwell envisions “an ASGARD even more beautiful than the previous ASGARDs.” She also hopes the excitement for the magazine will continue in the class after she graduates and that people outside of the class will continue to take the magazine as a serious publication. “I think people are taking it a lot more seriously now,” Blackwell said, going on to mention how many non-literary arts students are submitting to the magazine more than ever before. For future and currently new ASGARD staff members, Blackwell said she hopes they keep in mind that the magazine isn’t always about their own personal taste but instead a good reflection of the skills and talent our school has to offer. Ms. Giewont hopes that the high standards that Blackwell has placed as an editor and for the magazine continue for years to come. “I want to make it better every single year so that we always win the highest awards from everything,” she said. “[We’ve] added a CD and I think that makes it cooler and more interactive. We’re branching out to get more genres, [like music], so you can also listen to ASGARD while looking [through it],” Ms. Giewont added. This year’s ASGARD is going to be literally bigger and better than ever so make sure to get yours when the magazine is released. “It’s like $15,” Ms. Giewont said. “That’s like going out to KFC and getting a bucket of chicken.” Blackwell excitedly added that ASGARD is better than a bucket of chicken, going on to say, “People should buy ASGARD and if they don’t, then they don’t know what they’re missing out on.”

Buy a yearbook! By Avery welch (Dinwiddie) This year’s yearbook, “What’s Good?”,is going to be one like no other in ARGS history. The yearbook staff is working hard to produce an exciting blend of this year’s pop culture and ARGS memories in one new and improved book. Speaking with senior Cameron Wooddy (Dinwiddie), the editor-in-chief of the yearbook staff, has given assurances that this yearbook will go down in history. The staff is stepping up their yearbook game and doing things from a completely opposite perspective from last year’s yearbook. This means a hard cover, a rainbow of colors, and tons of fun polls, so they’re won’t be any boring gaps. They’ve even set up a job specifically for catching typos, so it’ll look as professional as possible.

Not only is this year’s yearbook going to be magnificent, but it is also being entered into the VHSL competition for the first time in ARGS history. By purchasing a yearbook, you are not only getting a book full of fun memories and a reflection on what happened in pop culture this year, but you’ll be buying an award worthy product produced by your fellow ARGS peers. (Also Ms. G really loves awards and we want to make her happy, right?) Of course at the end of the interview I had to ask Cameron the most popular question of the year, “What’s good?” and he replied, “This year’s yearbook.” Convinced yet? You should be.

Buy ASGARD, $15

TA K I N G T H E S TA G E Twelve Angry Jurors

Echo

by Lindy Pokorny (Chesterfield)

By Zoe Pierson (Chesterfield)

Twelve Angry Jurors was presented on the ARGS stage on March 11-13 and 18-20. Twelve Angry Jurors is an adaptation of the play Twelve Angry Men. The story takes place in just one room, where twelve members of a jury must decide on a verdict on the guilt on a boy accused of murdering his father. Among other things, the story explores how discrimination based on race and origin affect how the jurors treat each other and what they assume about the accused.

On April 8th and 9th, at Dogtown Dance Theater in Richmond, all of the dancers participated in their yearly formal showcase, Echo. With influence from multiple choreographers, there were many themes portrayed in the show this year such as: purgatory, broken dolls, and a little bit of show tunes. Based on movement and music from Silent Hill, Humans, West Side Story, each performer was able to have a personal connection to the pieces. The show was extremely well done and we congratulate everyone on their hard work.

Twelve Angry Jurors was particularly special because of the amount of student involvement. Claudia Altman (Hopewell) designed the set, Emily Parker (Chesterfield) designed each individual hairstyle, and Ellie Whelan (Prince George) designed the makeup.

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When reading the script, it’s difficult to distinguish one character from another. However, under the direction of Mr. Piersol, every actor created a distinct character, complete with individual quirks and habits. The most incredible thing about the performance was the sense that every character on stage had an entire life and backstory that informed their every decision. Without the internalization these actors clearly embraced, the play would not have the tension or depth it was able to achieve. This performance was undisputedly an enormous success. Congratulations to the cast, crew, and every person who made this feat possible! Director: Mr. Piersol Stage Managers: Ally Horowitz (Chesterfield), Dana Horowitz (Chesterfield) Cast: Foreman -Timothy Glover (Chesterfield) Juror 2 - Sasha Uzzle (Chesterfield) Juror 3 - Zoe Galanopoulos (Colonial Heights Juror 4 - Piper Lynch (Petersburg) Juror 5 - Aaron Kaboni (Chesterfield) Juror 6 - Taleah Ampy (Petersburg) Juror 7- Emiley Farnsworth (Chesterfield) Juror 8 - Jennifer Price (Dinwiddie) Juror 9 - Nena Daniels (Richmond) Juror 10 - Morgan Benson (Colonial Heights) Juror 11 - Annika Tobe (Richmond) Juror 12 - Madison Munson (Chesterfield) Guard - Lenny Farinholt (Richmond)

Echo dance showcase. Photos by Lianne Maunes (Petersburg).

The Little Lion at Swift Creek Mill By Rhiannon Edwards (Southampton) On February 18th, ARGS students, primarily the fiction and playwriting classes, left for the Swift Creek Mill Theatre in South Chesterfield to attend a performance called The Little Lion, a play based on the true story of a family during the tragic time of the Holocaust. Students joined middle schoolers from a nearby county to form a silent but captive audience as the story of Laibale Gillman, played by ARGS alumni John Mincks, was told. Grace Kolbert (Richmond), an ARGS sophomore musical theatre major, was also in the performance, playing the part of Rebekkah. Together, the cast told the sad but true story mostly from the perspective of an innocent teen. After the play, students attended a talk back with Irene Ziegler, author of the playwright, and Nancy Wright Beasley, the author of the book The Little Lion, on which the play was based. During lunch, students discussed the play and how it came to be through the several adaptations the true story

went from the book to being told on the stage. Nancy Beasley and Irene Ziegler, both full of personality, had advice to give on being writers from both a playwright and novelist point of view. Students were encouraged to ask questions and have the two ladies answer them. Courtney Walden, one of the only two juniors who attended, made a remark about the experience. “The Q&A we had with the author and the playwright gave me lots of insight into the process of turning a book into a play, and I’m glad that both writers were able to cooperate with us so well.” It turns out that they had more than just to offer than backstory about the play. Near the end of the meeting, Irene Ziegler revealed how important the moments in our lives are. “They’re ornaments, part of our own Christmas trees. We keep adding to them… sometimes we break them, sometimes they fall on their own. Take what you experience and use it!” Hopefully, the field trip allowed all of the students and teachers that attended to leave with new moments and experiences.

INDUCTIONS

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French Congres By Fahima Downey (Petersburg) French Congrés is a daylong yearly French convention for secondary students taking the language. The event was held this year at James River High School on March 19th. It was a day full of activities for the students to celebrate languages through competitions in the morning and workshops in the afternoon. French congrés officer, Skye Campolongo (Chesterfield) organized the Congre group, took pictures, made slides for a slideshow, handled t-shirts and registration, and worked with Madame Cochet as well to prepare everything. ARGS’ participating students and Madame Cochet wore sky blue t-shirts to identify each other. During the event they cooked, competed in various competitions, and participated in workshops. Students from ARGS interacted with other French students from central Virginia in a daylong celebration of the French language and culture. There was an assortment of food such as ham and turkey sandwiches, veggies, beignets, macaroons, and macarons. Madame Cochet (French teacher) describe the event as being “lots of fun!”

Darby Lindsay (Surry) and Piper Lynch (Petersburg) Photo by Skye Campolongo(Chesterfield)

Emma Banks (Richmond) Photo by Skye Campolongo(Chesterfield)

Skye Campolongo (Chesterfield) Photo by Natalie Solaja (Chesterfield)

District Orchestra Assesment Trip ByRhiannon Edwards (Southampton) On Thursday, March 10th, orchestra students left school at 11:45 a.m. and travelled to take part in the District Orchestra Assessment at Manchester High, an annual event. Members of the Virginia Band and Orchestra Association (VBODA) judged the ensembles, scoring in areas in the following criteria: Tone Quality, Intonation, Technique, Rhythm, Balance, Musicianship, and General Factors (such as confidence, discipline, stage appearance etc.) during the performance. ARGS Orchestra Photo by Destiny Roney (Dinwiddie)

Anne Greenburg (Dinwiddie), Mary Robideau (Chesterfield), Gaby Davenport (Chestrfield) Photo by Destiny Roney (Dinwiddie)

Joy Diaz (Petersburg), Carol Avery (Petersburg), Max Diamond (Chesterfield) Photo by Destiny Roney (Dinwiddie)

Orchestra students represented our school by performing three works: Elgar's “Chanson de Matin,” the second movement of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique (Un Bal), and Bernstein's Selections from “West Side Story.” Afterward, they were asked to read a sight piece together. Overall, they represented ARGS well and earned the highest rating possible, which was a Superior rating. The four judges that witnessed and scored the performances- three judging the prepared pieces, one judging the sight reading- gave praise to the orchestra and advice on how they could improve for the future. Our orchestra showed off their talent. For them, it was all in a day’s work, as they were able to return to ARGS by 3:15 p.m. Hopefully, our orchestra will be able to repeat their level of talent on May 18th, when another orchestra concert will be performed.

HOROSCOPES

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By Haleigh Ward (Franklin)

Aries 21 March- April 20

Mars at opposition this month leaves you feeling strongly, Aries. This could be a good thing or a bad thing, just be aware of your heightened emotions.

Taurus 21 April- 20 May

Everything’s coming up roses, Taurus. It’s a good, good month for you. Your vibrant spirit is magnetic. Expect to make some new friends and enjoy Taurus season.

Gemini 21 May- 20 June

There are two words a Gemini hates: Mercury Retrograde. Expect things in the realm of relationships, communication, and travel to be jumbled up until May 22nd.

Cancer 21 June- 22 July

Patience, Cancer! Good things are in your life and there are more on the way. Stop being so nitpicky and enjoy what you have!

Leo 23 July- 23 August

The full moon on the 21st is the special one. Not only is it a blue moon, but it is also the Flower, Corn, and Milk moon. This is a good time to reach out to the women in your life.

Virgo 24 August- 22 September

Spring has sprung, Virgo. Bring some new into your life—a new friend, pet, paint color. Normally, you’re loyal to your choices, but don’t be afraid to switch things up!

Libra 23 September- 23 October

Busy, busy, busy, Libra! Just keep your nose to the books for a while, it’ll be worth it in the end.

Scorpio 24 October- 22 November

Pay attention to dreams you have this month, Scorpio. You will find an answer you’ve been seeking for a while.

Sagittarius 23 November- 21 December

Blue moon= second chance, Sagittarius. Now is a time of healing and reconciliation. Communication can be tough with Mercury in retrograde. Just try to be honest and concise.

Capricorn 22 December- 20 January

Rest and healing are in your future, Capricorn. You aren’t always quick to accept help, but the kindness of those around is too good to pass up this month. Take advantage of it!

Aquarius 20 January- 18 February In the first week of the month, meteors will radiate from your constellation. Your house of friendship and your creativity levels are booming. Use this stellar energy for good!

Pisces 19 February- 20 March

Let go, Pisces. Accepting changes as they come is the easiest and least painful thing to do. You’ll be glad to go with the flow. Don’t get tired fighting the current.

OUR SCHOOL SONG

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Our School Song and Its History By Rachel Robinson (Chesterfield) HISTORY ARGS has an interesting past. The ARGS building was originally Petersburg High School, constructed in 1918, but ARGS began 17 years ago. For the first year, staff had to wear hard hats in the halls because of construction above! After the first couple of years, many teachers left, as they were used to the clean and cut way of teaching, instead of the more artistic and fluid teaching of ARGS. Even after 17 years of growth, Mr. Bartlett, an art teacher who has been here since the beginning, still believes, “It’s a small school, seemingly in its teenage years.” He went on, “The student body of this school is like a can of assorted nuts. They’re all so different, and some you pull out and ask ‘What even are you? Like, is this edible? Is this even a nut?’” Then, he left and brought back a small plush figure, one of the ones from the art foyer. “This. This is an ARGS student. Little monsters,” he said with a laugh. One great achievement in our history was the creation of the school song. Dr. Victory really wanted a school song to “install a feeling of school spirit and camaraderie.” He also said he liked that the song had a meaning to our school and could be utilized at pep rallies and student gatherings. When asked if he liked how the song turned out he said, “Yes. Absolutely. It’s exactly how I wanted it to be.” He went on to include that the music department wants to include the song at more events. When a certain freshman piped up, saying she hadn’t been able to hear the song, Dr. Victory sighed and said, “I wish it would be used more often, as you haven’t even heard it yet.” Mr. Gamby, one of our current music teachers and the song’s composer, was asked by Dr. Victory to compose the song. At the time, he was the choral

director, so he was able to have their help with the vocals. When asked how long the song took to compose, he simply stated, “20 minutes maybe. It wasn’t very difficult.” Mr. Gamby also stated there wasn’t any real inspiration behind the song other than that it was asked of him to compose it. “Still, I’m extremely proud of what Taizhe’ Parson, a 2011 graduate, and I have created.” After being asked jokingly if he thought of the song as his child, he chuckled and responded with, “Well, in a way, yes, I guess it is.” The other person to help create our beautiful song was Taizhe’ Parson. When she was asked what her inspiration for the song was, she replied with, “To be honest, not only myself but a lot of my peers, teachers, and mentors were going through personal situations at that point in time. But ARGS isn’t just a school, this is a home outside of home, where students are brothers and sisters and teachers are aunts and uncles. This family inspired the lyrics.” She continued, stating how she enjoyed how the song came out and and how it captured the essence of ARGS Dragons. Then when questioned about if she wanted the song to be used more often, she stated, “With how much work Mr. Gamby and I put into the song, yes, I do. It’s sad because Dr. Ruffa would have loved it. It would’ve melted his heart. It has the same motives that he taught us everyday. He would’ve loved it.”

open house, 62.4% at graduation, and 34.7% not even knowing we had a school song. 18.8% of kids chose other, with some responses being: “never,” “MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS,” “all the events,” “never, we need a new one,” “every morning instead of the pledge, birthdays, nhs/ nahs inductions,” “only Dragon Scales should sing it,”and, “never because this isn’t a tribe.” Responses for “how should we incorporate the song into the school” were varied as well. They included: “Not used,” “I think people should do remixes of the song, make it more our own,” “It should be on the school website,” “We have a school song? Is this a joke?”, “We should have a school song that isn’t bad,” “Just sing it everywhere, blast it on the intercom,” and “make it less 1953.” The shocking truth is this: the school seems to be split on the song, being one of two extremes; either adoring the song or wanting it scrapped and replaced, some not wanting a school song at all. It’s things like this that prevent a school from being able to come together and be a family. When we quarrel about, or simply overlook, the opinions of the students, it silences our voices and creates rifts. Maybe now, as the opinions of the student body are heard, we will be able to overcome this and find a compromise everyone can agree on.

THE SONG TODAY The Literary Magazine sent out a survey for the students, asking for their opinion as to when the school song should be played and how we could incorporate the song into our school’s culture. From the responses gathered, 48.5% of kids wanted the song sung at pep rallies, 26.7% at assemblies, 34.7% at sporting events, 32.7% at

Pep Rally Assemblies Sporting Events Open House Graduation We have a school song? Other

Graph of students’ opinions. Photo suppiled by Rachel Robinson.