How MCPS’ new grading policy is benefiting students during times of uncertainty
As covid-19 cases in the United States continue to soar, surpassing 2 million total, school districts nationwide continue to test and implement different online learning systems to ensure students receive educational instruction despite being locked outside of physical classrooms. In MCPS, the transition to online learning has led to modifications of its grading policy; students now only need to meet at least two of the four requirements conceived by county decision-makers to pass. If a student completes (1) at least 50 percent of their…
Meal distribution in MCPS
Meal distribution sites and meal information As of May 18, MCPS distributed over 2 million meals to students and families in need of resources, according to the Bethesda Magazine. On April 20, MCPS adjusted their meal service program from five to four days a week to reduce the chances of spreading covid-19 at meal sites. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, meal sites provide food from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. On Wednesdays, families receive two days worth of meals. There are 42 sites in total across the county: 25 elementary school…
How privilege has emerged in protesting
Kathryn LaLonde Silver Chips Ombudsman Kathryn LaLonde Crowds of protestors over 10,000 people strong are gathering across the globe, shouting “I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!” They protest police brutality against Black lives in light of the recent brutal killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the police. A few weeks before these protestors began calling for justice, a very different group of angry Americans gathered at state capitals to protest the covid-19 lockdown. They shouted, “I want my haircut!” …
Daily life of a teacher during quarantine
Blair English teacher Lisa Fox starts her days in quarantine between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m. Instead of driving to Blair in the morning like she would under normal circumstances, she lifts weights or goes on a run. She also hosts classes for her neighborhood friends to get a workout in. Then, she settles down in her office space at home and gets to work: responding to emails, planning lessons, and meeting with students via Zoom. She likes to cap off a normal day in quarantine in the kitchen, as she regularly makes dinner for herself, her husband,…
Balanced perspectives require balanced news
Australian bush fires. The assaniation of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. The impeachment and acquittal of President Trump. A contentious Democratic presidential primary. Fatal plane crashes. A deadly global pandemic leaving at least 119,000 people dead in the United States alone. An economic recession. Videos of deadly police brutality brought to light. Civil unrest nationwide. Peaceful protests in the streets. We are not even halfway through 2020, and headlines about all of these events have dominated national papers. While these sto…
Affecting real change in the age of social media hyper-activism
Does posting a black square contribute to solving systemic racism and police brutality? What difference does it make to tag ten friends in an Instagram story? While striving for social justice, these are the questions that we must ask ourselves. When activism is done solely to boost one’s social image, it is performative, devoid of any real meaning. Emilya Gebru The past few weeks have seen a whirlpool of social justice activity, prompted in large part by the death of George Floyd––an unarmed black man who was tragically murde…
Ashley’s Adventures: Closing out the school year in pandemic style
It may not seem like the end of the school year. Without the stressful cumulative tests; fervent yearbook signings; lunches in the courtyard under the spring sun; and proper goodbyes to friends, classmates, and teachers, the end of the year does not feel the same. Even though we are transitioning into summer, it still feels like we are stuck in limbo. On June 15, school and online learning came to an end in earnest while the county and state slowly reopened. With many common summer activities unavailable due to social distancing guidelines…
Blair National Circuit Debate Team ranks third in Tournament of Champions
Blair’s National Circuit Debate Team competes all year for a chance to debate in the Tournament of Champions (TOC). But the debaters never thought they would be debating the most important competition of the year over a screen, as this year’s TOC was held virtually due to the covid-19 pandemic. The new platform did not impair the Blazers’ performance, however. Blair sent seven students to the TOC in April, where they ranked third out of over 200 schools. Three student pairs qualified for the Public Forum event, which is a policy-focused s…
