I loved being at a school “The Tigers were not letting Check out “that embraces diversity. anything stop them this our prom ” year. photos! -Sissela Tucker on -Henry” Shuldiner on leaving Wilson P. 2 Wilson baseball P. 9 P. 13 Woodrow Wilson High School Please Recycle THE EACON June 6, 2014 3950 ChesapeakeB St. NW Washington, D.C. 20016 |www.thewilsonbeacon.com VOLUME 77 ISSUE 9 Graphic by Mason Strazzella Boundary Proposals and Jarrah May Would Shake Up the School System Emma Buzbee The current method for de- News Editor termining where DCPS students go to school is a neighborhood D.C. officials released a feeder system. Children go to revised proposal for elemen- the public school near where tary school boundaries as well they live, or that their lower as three proposals for changes schools “feed into.” However, to the current school feeder many out-of-boundary students system for all schools on April 5, are able to enter public schools sparking waves of controversy outside their neighborhoods by throughout a city divided by its lottery. Out-of-bounds Wilson schools. sophomore Marquise Andrews Problems have risen within said, “It was easy to get in [to DCPS due to an unequal distri- Wilson]. I got into a feeder bution of students and academic school, Hardy.” performance. Wilson and Deal Boundary lines for DCPS are both located in Ward 3 in schools have not been updated Northwest and each boast high since 1968. Wilson’s jurisdiction diversity and enrollment well stretches all the way across Rock over 1,000. By contrast, Anacos- Creek Park, covering almost tia High School, located across half the city, while the rest of the city in Southeast, has 751 DCPS high schools’ jurisdictions students and is 99 percent Afri- DCPS PLAYS WHEEL OF FORTUNE - Two out of three proposals call for a lottery can American. CONT. ON P 3 system that could shuttle students far from home. Westboro Baptist Church to Target Wilson Pride Day 1,000 plan on attending the Sophie ReVeal WBC counter-protest in order Videographer to support LGBTQ+ Pride Day at Wilson. Principal Pete Cahall The Westboro Baptist said in an email to one of the Church plans to picket Wilson Facebook group founders, Brian High School from 8:15 to 8:45 Keyes, that although the school a.m. on June 9. The Westboro couldn’t officially endorse the Baptist Church (WBC) is a protest, students would not face Kansas-based church known consequences for participat- for its radical religious beliefs, ing. Openly gay mayoral candi- its extreme protests against date David Catania asked D.C. gay marriage, and its pickets at residents to stand with Wilson funerals for soldiers. “in support of tolerance and There are 40 members of respect.” WBC, most of whom are rela- Senior Josh Kennedy-Noce tives of Fred Phelps, who was took to the Facebook group to the head of the church until his share his own story growing death in March. The church’s up with two moms. “I’m super first service was held in 1955. excited for this protest because Its anti-gay picketing started in I want to show these haters that 1991 in Kansas and then trav- family comes in so many shapes eled around the country. WBC Photo by Joey Keegan and sizes,” he wrote. This post is generally considered a “hate TIGER PRIDE - Wilson students, led by Biology received over 130 likes and the group” and does not receive teacher Chris Obermeyer, gear up for Westboro support of many people in the much outside support. Baptist Anti-Protest on June 9. One-thousand group. In 2009 WBC set out to people plan on attending this much anticipated “I get really passionate picket Sidwell Friends School in celebration of Wilson’s diversity. Photo by Eliza Hamburger about stuff like this,” said Gus D.C., and over 150 students met Inset: WBC counter-protest in 2009 Marrkand, an openly gay Wilson the protest with signs of their beliefs, have already posted on freshman. “Who are they to tell own. Some of the signs read, Sidwell, chose to protest outside Wilson’s LGBTQ+ Pride Day. Im- the Facebook group, titled West- me who I can love and who I can “There is that of God in Every- of their school. The same year, mediately after WBC announced boro Meet and Greet. Students get married to.” one” and “I Kissed a Girl and I WBC picketed Wilson, and these plans, Wilson students plan on creating posters, holding Marrkand has the support Liked it.” WBC had previously students reacted similarly to Kellik Dawson and Brian Keyes rainbow flags and standing of his peers, Wilson’s principal referred to Malia and Sasha Sidwell’s students in 2009 with took to Facebook and started together against the WBC. Pete Cahall, and D.C. Council- Obama as “satanic spawns” and, signs and a protest of their own. planning a peaceful counter- Wilson students and outside member David Catania. because of their attendance at Now, five years later, WBC is protest. Hundreds of support- supporters have come together visiting Wilson again to protest ers, excited to stand up for their in such a unified way that almost PAGE 2 NEWS June 6, 2014 TEACHERS HEAD OFF INTO THE WILD by Megan Bell MS. HARA MS. DEVINE After four years at Wil- son, After-School Program World History 1 and Coordinator Sheila Hara is 2 teacher Aimee Devine MS. TOCCO leaving. She oversaw various has been at Wilson for four HealthCorps coordina- clubs, including the His- years, including one as a tor and guru Micheline Tocco panic Heritage Club, where student teacher. For the has been at Wilson for two MS. TUCKER she played an important past two years, Ms. Devine years, where she has worked role in the group’s activi- has coached the JV Vol- Sissela Tucker is cur- to make Wilson a healthier ties. Hara counts the first leyball team, and this year rently an Intro and AP place. HealthCorps, which Hispanic Heritage assembly she became involved with Biology teacher, the girls JV aims to empower students two years ago as one of her the softball team, where she soccer coach, Special Olym- to lead healthy lives, has MS. KOWALEW favorite moments at Wilson, really enjoyed being sur- pics Team coordinator, and been active around Wilson when the group was able to rounded by wonderful and testing committee member. implementing programs Kristin Kowalew, World embrace its culture and teach fun ladies. As a new teacher, She will be leaving after and sponsoring activities to History, AP Human Geogra- other students. “Working at Ms. Devine had “nothing to three years at Wilson and promote improving health. phy, and Sociology teacher, Wilson has been an amazing compare Wilson to but has says, “I love the soccer girls Ms. Tocco teaches lessons on will be leaving after three experience. I’m going to miss loved so many things and will and the Special Olympics nutrition, fitness, and mental years at Wilson. During her so many students and our cherish these experiences.” were life-changing.” While resilience, and runs various time here, Kowalew has been interactions, especially those During her time here, “I’ve at Wilson, Tucker has most activities including the Dance involved in multiple activities students who entered at the grown as a person and will be enjoyed meeting all sorts Club, Healthy TiGIRLS, and and clubs: WISP, the Wilson same time who I’ve been forever changed be changed of different students and Teen Battle Chef- whose first Players, Human Geography able to see grow up.” Hara by this experience,” she says, teachers. Academically, she place in the regional cook-off Quiz Bowl, as well as tutor- has seen her role at Wilson and “I’ve really loved the one- says she has loved the labs she considers to be one of ing students in Russian after extend and develop to much on-one conversations that I and activities, as well as the her favorite experiences. “The school. “I have particularly en- more than a coordinator get to have with the amazing cross-disciplinary aspects of whole school community has joyed working with students -- she’s become a mentor, youth of this generation.” her subject. “I loved being at been so welcoming and open and staff during the Wilson a counselor, and a mother Ms. Devine will be moving a school that embraces diver- to me and my programs, and Players fall and spring produc- figure. Hara will continue to to Salt Lake City and will be sity, and where the teachers we have such a diverse and tions and the One Acts. There attend graduate school and teaching a religious course are here for the benefit of amazing student body,” Ms. are some incredibly talented is starting a job in the federal based on ancient scripture. students and work as a fam- Tocco says of her time at young people in our midst!” government shortly. “I’m As a final message to Wilson ily to promote success,” she Wilson. Ms. Tocco is moving says Kowalew. While at Wil- going to miss Wilson dearly students Ms. Devine says, says. Tucker will be mov- to Boston where she will con- son, Kowalew has been able to but I will still be part of the “Be an active participant in ing to Rhode Island where tinue to work in the health develop and teach courses that Wilson community.” your life!” her husband will pursue a and wellness field. have allowed her to cultivate program at Brown and where her own vision and to “grow she will hopefully teach and a lot personally and profes- DR.