TThehe ProwlerProwler Quince Orchard High School 15800 Quince Orchard Road • (301) 840-4686 • AP Signature School • Volume 27, Issue 4 Friday, February 13, 2015 Puttin’ on the Hits Showcases Red Army’s Talents Individual and class acts bring excitement to highly anticipated performance By BELLA ROBERTS and perform in front of the whole school,” News Managing Editor says freshman Sam Katzker. Katzker is the POTH, or Puttin’ on the Hits, is Freshman Class President, and explains that a yearly talent show that showcases the POTH is a team effort. “Lots of work went talent in the QO community. POTH is a in to planning our act because it takes more great opportunity for students to perform, than just one person to put something that while offering a friendly competitive special together and showcase that in front of aspect. This year, QO students the entire school,” Katzker stated. “We spend redefi ned talent as they performed. several weeks getting everything down just POTH gives students in every grade to ensure we would have an awesome act.” level the opportunity to perform and is Everyone is encouraged to participate in the composed of a “class act”, a compilation event. “Next year, people who are interested of funny skits and songs from each grade should defi nitely try out!” Dvari exclaims. and individual performances. While To many, POTH is about more than just a individuals must audition to perform, talent show. “While Puttin’ on the Hits is everyone is invited to perform with their the annual school talent show, it’s really class. “Everyone can easily get involved more than that. It’s a night when the QO by either trying out on an individual basis community comes together and joins in or coming to class meetings where the watching talented youth perform,” states class performances are organized,” states Dvari. “Schools should have shows like this junior Shadi Dvari. Dvari is the Junior because it’s important to have students be Class Historian and contributed greatly individuals and be able to perform. It can also PHOTO BY HOLLY MCKNIGHT to the organization of POTH. The show PUTTING ON THE HITS: (From left to right) Seniors David Ramsey, Sam help to get rid of stage fright and anything is all about “letting the students have Hurwitz, Micah Levey, Sam Feldman, and Griffi n Miller strut in the senior class act. the experience to showcase their talents CONT PAGE 2 Superintendent Starr Resigns SHOP Coffee House Rocks deciding factor in his resignation was that By ANDY GOLDSTEIN not to me, I’m just glad I got By LAWRENCE SIMON he’d done something to upset the Board of which students are educated to play,” stated Jones. This Editor-in-Chief Education,” and that “his fate was sealed News Associate Editor on the topic of drunk commitment to musicianship from there.” Schuman hopes with the driving, and dedicate a day The Montgomery County Public drew many other performers change in MCPS’ Superintendent that we’ll On February 5, the to silence to commemorate Schools community showed mixed as well to sign up for see a change in “the 50% rule in our grading SHOP (Students Helping people who lose their lives levels of surprise at the resignation of Coffee House this year. policy,” as well as other changes in “grading, Other People) Club hosted its in drunk driving accidents. County Superintendent Joshua Starr. The Many of the class enrollment, class size, teacher salary, annual Coffee House, which The program got its name announcement came by way of a message performers at the event have teacher time, and standardized testing.” allows students to showcase due to the harrowing statistic from the Montgomery County Board of an extended background in Although Schuman doesn’t feel that this their musical talent to their that every 15 minutes, Education, which voted not to renew Starr’s music. Junior Jacob Elder is resignation will affect MCPS for the peers. Beginning at 7 PM someone dies due to drunk four-year contract on February 3. The a longtime guitar player and remainder of the school year, he did add in the cafeteria, the event driving. Elder supports the decision means that Starr will vacate the member of the local band that “I’d like to see Jennifer Yang replace drew many members of the cause, stating, “I decided to offi ce of superintendent effective February Throwing Wrenches. Elder Dr. Starr” as the county’s superintendent. Quince Orchard community perform because I wanted 16, and will be replaced by Larry Bowers, stated, “Ever since we started Senior and County SGA member to observe the musical to help raise money for the Chief Operating Offi cer, as interim playing together, I have Henry Peck added about the controversy, prowess of our students. the Every 15 Minutes Superintendent, pending the approval been motivated to perform “The Board of Education hired Starr as Many students program.” Elder is not alone of the Maryland State Superintendent more.” Although Elder has superintendent to make tough decisions, and signed up to perform at in this feeling, as many of Schools Lillian M. Lowery. played on stages far bigger he has failed on multiple occasions to make the event, including junior patrons of Coffee House One such teacher who is interested than the Quince Orchard tough decisions.” Peck did mention that Jake Jones. Jones professed came to support this cause in the selection process is government cafeteria, he always enjoys Starr made large contributions to discussions his love for the stage and as well as see the musical teacher Joshua Schuman. Schuman said himself at Coffee House. “It in Montgomery County on “the school start stated, “I just really love talent being showcased. that he fi rst heard about Starr’s resignation was very fun! I’ve enjoyed time issue and has support of Curriculum performing, especially when On such a cold “during 6th period on the day it happened,” playing at Coffee House a 2.0, the MCPS version of Common Core you can interact with the night, Coffee House lived through “an email from the Board of lot,” Elder said. He is one of Standards.” Looking forward to the county’s audience. It feels a lot like up to its name, providing Education.” Schuman reported that “I many of the performers who next superintendent, Peck said, “I hope the what an athlete feels during hot chocolate and hot coffee know that half of the Board of Education have already made music new MCPS superintendent is more willing a game. It’s just a great to its patrons while they did not have confi dence in the job [Starr] a large part of their lives. to publicly take a stance on tough issues thing to experience.” Jones sat back and listened to was doing,” also adding that “Dr. Starr is The SHOP Coffee with split perspectives.” However, Peck performed a cover song as the musical performances. resigning because it would be impossible House is hosted every year is worried that, amidst the discussion for well as an original song, Combining musicianship for him to be an effective leader without to raise money for a very a new superintendent, that the Board of which he had written a few and charity, it is no surprise confi dence and support from the Board of nights before. “It doesn’t important cause. Every 15 Coffee House drew a Education.” Schuman believes that “the CONT PAGE 2 really matter if they like it or Minutes is a program in crowd to the audience. NNewsews FFeatureseatures SSportsports The Annual Polar Bear Teenage drug abuse The Super Bowl Plunge has Cougars is a dangerous issue comes to a sprint into the freezing found in most high shocking end with bay yet again. schools across the a controversial last country. minute error. PPageage 3 PPageage 6 PPageage 9 2 NEWStheProwler February 13, 2015 Students Take a Cold Plunge for a Good Cause By DYLAN KEARNEY word through announcements at school and yourself to something you’re not used to, is anticipating the event together. “It’s bet- News Editor through social media, so many people can even if it is intimidating at fi rst.” The prepa- ter to go in after though, because otherwise enjoy the event. “The atmosphere is great. ration involves getting in a tent together you could get stuck in the front and stay Students submerged in the cold wa- It is super fun and everyone around you is and getting ready to go in. She said this part in the cold!” Jones said. It’s her third time ters of the Chesapeake Bay on January 30 cheering,” Jones said. “It’s great to push was one of the most fun, because the team plunging and she enjoys doing it very much. to fundraise for The Special Olympics, Sophomore Patty Dirlam is also ex- an organization that does training and cited to plunge for the fi rst time. “I joined year-round competitions with kids and because it is sure to be a good experience, adults who have intellectual disabilities. and I’m also excited to see how much mon- People all around the community jump ey I can raise for Special Olympics,” Dir- into the water for the cause, and some don’t lam said. Never participating in it before, go in but still enjoy the atmosphere. Gov- students wonder about what to expect. “I’m ernment teacher Karen Jones is the sponsor looking forward to a rather chilly bonding of the students participating. “It’s a chal- experience with Special Olympic support- lenge,” said Jones.