The Chemistry SOL will be held in the upstairs gym. May 23, 2012 at 9:52 am
Prom tickets are being sold during all lunches. May 23, 2012 at 9:48 am
Today is a Red Day. May 23, 2012 at 9:48 am
The Class of 2013 will hold their final bake sale after school outside of the cafeteria. May 23, 2012 at 9:40 am
Noah Fitzgerel is In-Depth Editor for The A-Blast. He also writes for his opinion column, “Noah’s Notes,” and has been on staff since his freshman year. Noah serves as class president of Annandale’s Class of 2013, and is an active officer on Annandale’s Key Club and his youth group board, among other extracurricular activities in which he enjoys participating. He also writes as a featured blogger for The Huffington Post. Noah is an IB Diploma candidate, and an avid follower of politics, especially concerning the separation of church and state; a cause for which he has worked and written in Washington, D.C.
Comments, questions, ideas, or concerns regarding the Editorials section of The A-Blast can be sent to ablast.editorials@gmail.com
Noah Fitzgerel, In-Depth Editor
May 14, 2012
Filed under In-Depth
As AHS prom is rolling around the corner (on May 25, to be exact), students will begin to see the results of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)’s campaign to raise awareness for the danger surrounding drunk driving on prom. Thus, our theme for this week is underage drinking while driving. It... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, In-Depth Editor
May 11, 2012
Filed under In-Depth
The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), which served as the impetus for this In-Depth spread, is simply one iteration of a long sequence of proposed legislation that has sought to redefine the role of government in our increasingly digitized world and has had an indelible... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, In-Depth Editor
May 10, 2012
Filed under In-Depth
Four students attending South Lakes High School received punishment for posting tweets with which the SLHS administration took issue. Two of the students, seniors Mitch Dempster and Brian Kraus, received a two-week sports suspension from the varsity soccer team. Dempster and Kraus, along with... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, In-Depth Editor
April 30, 2012
Filed under In-Depth
Every week, you will have an opportunity here to find interesting facts surrounding a certain theme. This week’s theme is teen driving. AHS students often hear the poor result of bad decision making while driving. According to GMAC Insurance, there are five simple mistakes teen drivers can... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
April 20, 2012
Filed under Editorials
A good friend of mine recently sent me a YouTube video detailing the project of a college student and his experiences on New York’s subway system. He would ask fellow riders questions which require a bit of deep thought. What was most intriguing about their reactions was their shock when... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
April 20, 2012
Filed under Editorials
Turn on your computer; open your internet browser; enter a web address; log-in; begin typing.You have just condensed the usual 45 minutes it takes to wait at the bus stop, get to school and walk to your class into a one minute process. If you are a ninth grade student in the 2013-2014 school... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
March 30, 2012
Filed under Editorials
The comments on the bomb threat story and poll on The A-Blast website say it all: those who were responsible for dispensing information to the concerned AHS public this morning failed miserably. Driving into the H-Mart parking lot across the road from AHS thirteen minutes before school began,... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
March 28, 2012
Filed under Editorials
The term “abolitionism” brings to mind historical figures such as Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison and Lucretia Mott. A Google image search retrieves images from the 1830s, illustrating a bygone era. Slavery is not a subject Americans often talk about anymore. While noble... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
March 21, 2012
Filed under Editorials
“The portrayal of Muslims as victims or heroes is at best partially accurate.” When Newsweek published this sentence from Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s “The Global War on Christians in the Muslim World” on February 6, the publication stooped to a new low. The article that... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
March 13, 2012
Filed under Editorials
In a few months, it seems as if the unsurprising will be confirmed: Mitt Romney will become the nominee for the Republican Party for the 2012 race for the White House. While Rick Santorum has seemed to provide a brief scare for the Romney campaign, the 2012 race’s brief history has shown... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
March 7, 2012
Filed under Editorials
Last night when I was lying in bed — proud of the fact that I had managed to do so at a relatively early time — I was partaking in my ritual pre-bedtime Facebook perusal when I came across a bombardment of statuses and links all sharing this video. Those who posted this video had... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
February 23, 2012
Filed under Editorials
When told that my generation epitomizes laziness and simply contains the beneficiaries of an easy world, I am the first to protest. Mind you, I respond, we did not raise ourselves! It seems that you all have forgotten the little things, I am told. I retort, those “little things” are changing! However,... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
February 2, 2012
Filed under Editorials
The Virginia Code is a document of violations. Among them is a violation of students’ religious freedom. At AHS, we walk by this violation every morning. It is manifest in a harmless looking framed document. It is the words “In God We Trust.” I am a proud adherent of Reform Judaism. However,... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
January 24, 2012
Filed under Editorials
FCPS often prides itself as delivering the most “cutting-edge” education to its students. As the 11th largest school district in the nation, it should provide such an education. However, it seems as if FCPS is falling behind in one important front for students: technology-loan programs.... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
January 11, 2012
Filed under Editorials
His answers in debates always receive thunderous rounds of applause, he is the most popular candidate among the GOP youth and he is a fervent libertarian. He’s not Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, nor Rick Santorum. He is Ron Paul. Why the big hullabaloo over Rep. Paul? According to Harvard’s Institute... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
July 7, 2011
Filed under Editorials
Yes, it’s that time; watching the waves go in and out, sitting with your family at that spot you seem to find every year at that beach. It’s Monday night, and if you’re on swim team, you know that means it’s time to race! Yes, it’s summer time. Or so we’ve been told. Unfortunately,... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
July 7, 2011
Filed under Editorials
Washington, D.C. is an awe-inspiring city. Once you look through the surface of tourists and street vendors, you truly see the magic that Pierre Charles L’Enfant, the Frenchman who laid the foundations for the city, attempted to impress upon the American citizen. It is not the National... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
June 8, 2011
Filed under Editorials
In early March, the Class of 2013 held a t-shirt contest, resulting in two winning designs. The first design had a slogan that stated “We do it like a 13oss,” and the second one had the slogan “We’re just 13oss,” with the number thirteen being used in both as a substitute for the... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
May 12, 2011
Filed under Editorials
The sentence, “[The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)] exams provide a path to opportunities, financial support and scholarships, in a way that’s fair to all students” found on the College Board website, the facilitating organization of the SATs, is flawed in itself. No, not in spelling... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Editorials Editor
May 2, 2011
Filed under Editorials
Terry Jones, a name that was made infamous in news headlines months ago, has resurfaced into the nation’s limelight. This pastor, who preaches at the Dove World Outreach Center, in Gainesville, Florida, recently completed an action that the international community pressured him not to partake... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff Writer
March 30, 2011
Filed under Editorials
Everyday on the ride to school, I have made it a habit to glance at how much gasoline costs that day. If you partake in a similar ritual, you might have noticed a pattern that I have, which is, when the Middle East is in the headlines, the prices go up – and when the region is “calm,”... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff Writer
March 29, 2011
Filed under News, Top Stories
It is a daily recurrence now- Facebook statuses, “tweets” and increasing smiles emanating from seniors all signify one thing- it is finally that time, after months of anticipation. The answer, to many, is in the mailbox- is that packet fat or thin? A bright or dim future? Acceptance or... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff Writer
March 8, 2011
Filed under Editorials
Merely two months ago, the landscape of the Middle East was strikingly different than that of the political atmosphere found in the same area today. As the world’s major cable news networks so adequately explained to us, starting on Dec. 17, 2010, Mohammed Bouazizi started more than one fire... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff Writer
February 16, 2011
Filed under Editorials
If a company were to conduct rankings of high schools by the intensity in which their students participate in after-school activities, AHS would certainly obtain an impressive classification. Within the past several years, students at AHS have become increasingly involved in humanitarian-related... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff Writer
February 1, 2011
Filed under Last Weekend I..., Top Stories
For most of us, the forecasts of snow and freezing rains to come over the four-day weekend were thrilling; however, for me, it was far more excruciating because I was registered to attend a seminar called L’Taken that weekend, a public-policy oriented program hosted by the Religious Action... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff Writer
January 19, 2011
Filed under Editorials
Abraham Lincoln once said, “a house divided cannot stand.” Although he was referring to the Civil War, a much more dire situation, this statement is, unfortunately, applicable to the current state of the U.S. Congress. As the media has dubbed it, the “lame-duck” session of Congress,... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff writer
December 10, 2010
Filed under Editorials
“The time has now approached 2:15…” That is where the similarities end between the messages that each Assistant Principal (AP) at AHS gives at the end of the school day reminding students to be somewhere; whether it be a classroom, sport or waiting for a ride home. Each AP, (Jamie Carayiannis,... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff writer
December 10, 2010
Filed under Editorials
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” This statement is quite applicable to this time of year, as the lights and scents remind all of us that it is Christmas time again. The holiday season, as it has come to be called, is made up of celebrations from all religions and walks-of-life. However,... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff Writer
October 20, 2010
Filed under Editorials
With a 24/7 news cycle, stories that would have been ignored 30 years ago now seem to receive undue amounts of media coverage. For example, the group who planned the Koran burning would have been no more than a blip on the radar instead of a near international disaster. Since stories like these... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff writer
September 17, 2010
Filed under Editorials
Two years ago, the nation was in the midst of the race for the Presidential Office. President George W. Bush’s second term was coming to a close, and it seemed that most of the country, as reflected in campaigns from both sides of the aisle, was ready for change. A young senator from Illinois... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff Writer
September 16, 2010
Filed under Entertainment
“Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you, and I’ll let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!” One year later, these words, which were spoken by musician Kanye West at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards as Taylor Swift was accepting an award, is still a hot topic... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff Writer
July 22, 2010
Filed under Culinary Conquests, Top Stories
Take a stroll down the main drag of Old Town Fairfax and you will most likely notice the large town hall, the old courthouse building, a bakery and several office-buildings, but unfortunately you will most likely miss the small Greek and Italian-style restaurant that is called Havabite Eatery;... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, staff writer
June 1, 2010
Filed under Editorials
Walking through the doors of AHS on my first day of school was one of the most intimidating experiences I have encountered in my life so far. Being the sort of tentative person I am when it comes to new ventures, as soon as I exited the doors of my bus, along with several other freshmen, I... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, staff writer
May 10, 2010
Filed under Editorials
Yes; believe it or not, Virginia’s Standards of Learning tests (SOL) tests, the dreaded bane of a student’s existence, are here. As time draws closer, students begin to complain about the absurdity of the standardized tests. However, SOLs on the contrary, are quite beneficial to the students... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff Writer
April 15, 2010
Filed under Academics
For about one-quarter of the school, classes have become obsolete as this year’s school calendar is drawing to a close. Many members of the Class of 2010 have begun the annual ritual of “senioritis,” a term coined for the attitude that many seniors take-on as colleges have determined... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff Writer
April 15, 2010
Filed under Editorials
Who will I run against? Should I let them run for that position, and I run for another one so we can work together? What if I lose, but I’m a good candidate? Will it be a popularity contest like most elections? These are the questions that often run through a candidates’ mind during the... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff Writer
March 30, 2010
Filed under Weekend
You enter the tent, and immediately you feel something special. The funnel cake you have in your hand might be bad for you, but hey, it’s the circus! Immediately after being seated, one will notice the stage in front of them, which is easily seen. Every chair is guaranteed by the Big Apple... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, staff writer
March 23, 2010
Filed under Editorials
Congressman Patrick T. McHenry has issued a formal proposal to Congress to change the current $50 bill from a photo of Ulysses S. Grant to former President Ronald Regan. Reagan, who was in term from 1981-1989 was perceived by many to be one of the greatest presidents in this last century. ... (more...)
Noah Fitzgerel, Staff Writer
February 22, 2010
Filed under Editorials, Top Stories
Students happily enjoyed having nearly two weeks off of school. Consequently, the many hours lost have to be made up. There were three options released by FCPS Superintendent, Dr. Jack Dale. The original release included three possible options that the nation’s 12th largest school system... (more...)
