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In light of the recent efforts by a local high school mother to ban Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved from Fairfax County Schools after her son experienced nightmares while studying the novel, a discussion here at Marshall began because the IB English HL 2 classes recently read the novel. Beloved depicts events containing a slew of sensitive and offensive topics such as infanticide, bestiality, and rape; it’s understandable why some people object to the text being taught.
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In an effort to promote the information technology field, the Computer Science club hosted an information and activity session at Kilmer Middle School on Feb. 11.
A club that focuses on exposure to the IT field and implementing cheap technology solutions, the Computer Science club was started three years ago by senior Sherif Sarhan in an effort to “create a community for students to have a place where they can learn more about computers,” Sarhan said.
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The CyberPatriots team, sponsored by Jason Simeon, is sending two teams of students to the national finals competition of cyber-security on March 17.
Because the team has a high number of members, they will be sending two teams to the competition to compete against each other and against other teams from all over the United States and some from Canada.
At the semi-finals cyber competition, two Marshall teams were placed in the top twelve, and therefore both teams will be competing in the national competition.
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Irish dancing, ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop, are some of the various types dances that students do as extra-curricular activities. There are also a wide range of reasons for those students who take dance classes.

Sophomore Rachel Hong Fong takes ballet classes twice a week to help her improve at her ice skating. Senior Jackie O’Neil does ballet as well but for different and more holistic reasons.

“[Ballet] is a way of expressing myself. I have also made a lot of friends and it’s a great form of exercise,” said O’Neil.

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The number of illegal immigrants in Virginia rose to 210,000 this year, making the state home to the 12th largest population of illegal immigrants nationwide.
While counties such as Loudoun and Prince William have created measures to deny illegal immigrants services and allow police to ask the legal status of individuals, Fairfax has not followed suit. In fact, the policies towards illegal immigrants in Fairfax County are so lenient that the area appears at the top of several online lists of “sanctuary communities.”
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Approaching Pho Sate, you’d never know the value within. The restaurant is hidden under an overhang in a dull strip mall on the corner of Graham Road and Route 50.

However, the inside of the restaurant is vibrant, both as a result of the kiwi-green walls and the downright delicious soup.

The line was running out the door when we got there, with tables full of Northern Virginians enjoying lunch. Why is this place so popular?

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Since France has invaded Mali, they have won praise from numerous NATO nations, including Great Britain and the United States for its contribution to the war on terrorism. Within the first week of their intervention, French-led forces captured key locations along the border with the al Qaeda-controlled north and began critical bombing operations which crushed the enemy forces.
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When I was little, I was the kind of kid that could be fascinated for hours on end by something as simple as a cardboard box; it could be a spaceship, train car or even a house—the possibilities were endless.

As I grew up, I slowly lost my sense of creativity. What was once a spaceship or a train caboose became simply just a box.

Of course, part of my loss of creativity (and in this metaphorical box example, loss of wonder) was simply due to me becoming more mature. But I think that another part of this loss is due to the influence of my education.
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Two days. That’s how long arguably the biggest hyped home game since the 2006 state appearance Cinderella run was delayed. That was because of a “snow” warning. All of Marshall had been depressed because of this delay. So much hype, so much waiting had been in preparation of this day, and now that excitement would have to wait another two days.

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On Feb. 7, 2013, the assessment of the FCPS school lunch program started, an assessment that will lay out a plan for FCPS to transition to a healthier school food program that features more fresh foods.

“They’re not giving us a report card,” Real Food for Kids co-founder and Marshall parent JoAnne Hammermaster said. “What they’re going to do is give us a road map, for probably 3-5 years. How do you transition from heat-and-serve to hopefully phasing in fresh food?”

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Entertainment is one of the toughest industries to break into: the uncertainty, the competition and the pressure make show business an intimidating career path for prospective stars. But despite the obstacles, aspiring stars Lily Roth, Sara Chapin and Samantha Hakim have already made their start.
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Fairfax County will be getting a new superintendent at the end of the school year in response to the retirement of current superintendent Jack Dale.
The search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates was commissioned by the School Board to search for a new superintendent by collecting input from employees, parents, and the Fairfax County community.
Principal Jay Pearson, along with other high school and middle school principals, collectively provided feedback for the qualities the school board wants in a superintendent.
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Amazon’s Kindle has evolved from being exclusively a reading device, to being a full blown tablet.

The newest additions include a 9-inch screen with high-resolution graphics, an HD camera and a plethora of new apps, including classics like Angry Birds, HBO and Netflix.

All of these qualities raise the question: Do the new, state-of-the-art features distract from the original purpose of the Kindle?

The original basis of the Kindle was to make books more accessible; a contemporary take on reading, per se.

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The Madman’s Daughter, by author Megan Shepherd and published at the end of January, is a science-fiction book about a surgeon pushing the boundaries of nature and science. Taking place in urban London in the late 1800s, it is Shepherd’s first novel.

The book contains vivid settings of bustling lower-class London and a deserted tropical island off the coast of Australia. Shepherd describes the settings in a very detailed and believable way, using lifelike language. She uses imagery to set an eerie tone that is present throughout the novel.

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Most people have either heard of or played popular sports like soccer as an extracurricular activity or a favorite pastime, but how about indoor soccer? Yoga? Zumba? Frisbee?

Less typical sports are often overlooked. As a result, unconventional sports are less schedule intensive, and less exclusive.

Students who do not necessarily have time in their schedules find unconventional sports a less time-consuming alternative.

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