New Principal Should Be Chosen Soon, More Time to Get Acclimated
Anagha Srikanth, Editor-in-Chief
April 10, 2013
When Principal Dan Meier announced his retirement, he said he wanted to give his successor an opportunity to be involved in the decisions made at the end of this school year for the following year. A week before his retirement, however, the board is left without any candidates and an interim principal... Read more »
Assigning a school a grade increases pressure on teachers and students
Anagha Srikanth, Editor-in-Chief
March 4, 2013
Amidst mid-quarter deadlines and progress reports, the school will have another grade to worry about. With the administration and teachers worried about the letter assessing their progress and capability, students too will ultimately feel the pressure. The “A-F scale” is intended to show... Read more »
Staff Ed: There must be effective cooperation between new pricipal and students
February 7, 2013
Whether they’ve been here for one year or six, students at the school have only known one principal for the entirety of their time here. Although it will be hard to imagine another person taking the place of Dan Meier, April will be here sooner than we expect. Before this short window of time... Read more »
A Successful Ice Fest Depends on Participation
Anagha Srikanth, Editor-in-Chief
December 3, 2012
Most decisions students make are based off of their emotions in a single moment: do I feel like studying for this test, am I in the mood to go out tonight, do I want Chipotle or Panera right now? Caught up in our fast-paced and hectic schedules, we rarely consider the impact of our choices beyond ourselves... Read more »
‘Drive S.A.F.E.’ Program Off to a Strong Start, Needs Follow Through
Anagha Srikanth, Editor-in-Chief
November 13, 2012
When most students jump in the car, the most pressing thoughts on their mind are where they’re going and whether or not they have enough gas to make it all the way there. Having a full tank, however, isn’t always enough to get them home in one piece. In the same way, the Drive S.A.F.E. campaign is... Read more »
Remembering ‘Coach G’
June 11, 2012
It’s not very often we come across a person so strong he will put aside his own burden to help us with ours, but when we do, he changes our lives. We remember Coach Barry Gorodnick for being this man. Assistant Director of Student Activities John Ellenburger said, “The biggest thing with Coach G... Read more »
Taking time to study: Peaceful study time is necessary for IB students
Valor Dictus Staff
May 9, 2012
May brings more than warm weather to IB students: multiple exams become the subject of much dread and discussion. Some of this discussion stems from disgruntled teachers of regular classes upset that their students are missing their class to prepare for IB exams. However, it is smart for IB students... Read more »
King’s Dominion Law needlessly hinders high-achieving students
Valor Dictus Staff
March 5, 2012
While King’s Dominion itself provides a thrilling experience, the law it keeps in existence creates unnecessary obstacles for test-taking students. The King’s Dominion Law requires all FCPS schools open after Labor Day, which serves to keep the number of visitors to the theme park high during the... Read more »
IB must review old course material
Valor Dictus Staff
February 1, 2012
The International Baccalaureate program is frequently praised for providing students with a broad, in-depth education. However, observing some students in the program may cause outsiders to question its effectiveness in teaching more common material. According to www.ibo.org, the program’s mission... Read more »
Early releases and delays, take school stress away
Valor Dictus Staff
February 1, 2012
This year, the administration decided to cut three hours from the start or end of one school day each month. This change has proven beneficial to both the students and faculty, especially as the busy second semester approaches. Last year, when teachers’ collaboration periods took place during busy... Read more »
