Gifted education: Is it a gift?
by Emily Webb and Ruby Cerny
September 30, 2019
EMILY’S EXPERIENCE: For seven years of my educational experience, I spent my time playing with Tangrams, solving upside-down puzzles, and competing in trivia competitions. Rather than learning fractions or United States geography like my peers, my focus was on critical thinking, pattern recognition,...
Don’t BYOD: Leave your cell phone in your backpack
by Ethan Hart, Editor-in-Chief
September 27, 2019
At the beginning of the school year, Kristen Canning, a teacher at Ballenger Creek Elementary School, read a bedtime story to her students via Facebook live-stream. The live-stream helped build personal connections between her and her students, encouraged reading, and set an example for parents to r...
College applications: We don’t know what we’re doing, do you?
by Alaina Burger and Grace Gaydosh
September 24, 2019
November 1: The dreaded college application deadline. Maybe you’re lucky, and the college you are applying to has a deadline of December 1. Seniors are feeling the pressure. Procrastinating is easier. Just don’t even start the process. That’s where many seniors are today. The entir...
Schoology: What is it?
by Alexis Fowler, Editor
June 6, 2019
We’re making the switch, and all incoming freshmen should be prepared. In case you've missed it, FCPS is switching to a new learning management platform called Schoology. Schoology is a learning site with a social networking aspect that allows students and teachers to collaborate and have easie...
Practice safe sex: Condoms should be available in Frederick County high schools
by Braden Weinel, Editor
May 1, 2019
From freshman to senior year, we are all taught abstinence, the only 100% effective way to save teens from unplanned pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted diseases. However, all classroom preparation aside, history says that hormones and desire are going to win. Due to this, we should at least prepar...
Are you ready? Linganore, Oakdale and Urbana areas redistricting quickly to alleviate overcrowding
by Emily McNally, Reporter
April 4, 2019
Frederick County Public Schools plan to redistrict starting in the 2020-2021 school year, and three high schools will be affected: Urbana, Oakdale and Linganore. This typically takes about one year to complete and another year to implement. The students affected will be redistricted in phases. At t...
Students take a FCPS perceptual survey: Photo of the Day 2/14/19
by Lindsey Russo, Editor
February 15, 2019
Between February 14 and 20, students in Grades 3 through high school in FCPS will take a perceptual survey about how they feel about FCPS schools. The survey is important to provide data that will lead to improvements in everyone’s school experience. Natalie Gay is the Coordinator for Data Anal...
Students get a “voice” during special field trip to discuss problems: Photo of the Day 2/5/19
by Braden Weinel, Editor
February 6, 2019
On February 4, students travelled to the Frederick County Public Schools staff development building for a Student Voices field trip. They joined others from Frederick, Oakdale and Governor Thomas Johnson High Schools. The purpose of this field trip was to build unity throughout our county and to get other persp...
Staff and alumni look forward to Liberty Elementary getting remodeled
by Kendall Martin and Sydney Henry
January 24, 2019
Liberty Elementary school was established in 1927, and 92 years late, FCPS is planning a remodel. The construction team that is making this happen are trying to figure out the best way to expand and modernize the school. They also want to make it a more safe place for students. As a former stude...
Registration process: The future is now!
by Rachel McCoy and Grace Coccagna
January 23, 2019
The time has come where every student has to plan for their next year of high school, even before the second semester has started. This process can be very stressful because their are so many components to think about. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors have received a pink slip about registration,...