Online Editor

Yearning to learn more about Thomas Jefferson and his Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, 27 CGS juniors and seniors attended a special extra credit history lecture at Dodd Auditorium in UMW last Thursday, Jan. 26.

The UMW presented the annual 2012 Jefferson Lecture titled, “Was America founded as a Christian nation?” The history speaker was John Fea, associate professor of American history at Messiah College. Free and open to the public, the lecture attracted many from Fredericksburg, especially the Commonwealth Governor’s School juniors and seniors, led by Nicholas Jacobs, their history teacher.

“Naturally, this was a great opportunity to hear an authoritative historian speak on his expertise and was also unique because it is given annually in honor of Thomas Jefferson’s Statute of Religious Freedom, which was actually written in Fredericksburg,” Jacobs said. “I believe that, if a person wanted to be a good student of American history, no matter what religious affiliation they may have, they would need to understand the initiate and complex role religion has played in our history.”

The lecture did not only add to the U.S. history knowledge of the students but also left them with unanswered questions.

“He provided a plethora of evidence for both sides of the argument and left the answer up to the listener, which I really enjoyed,” junior Sarah Phillips said. “I was surprised to find that, after the lecture, I still did not feel like I knew the answer to the questions that titles the lecture.”

According to junior Elizabeth Chase, the lecture also acted as a great source of historical information they needed to acquire for their own projects. In other words, the lecture was not only an opportunity for extra credit for the students but also a professional opportunity for them to add onto the content of their academic projects.

“It was such a wonderful opportunity for me to attend a lecture in which a professional U.S. history historian discussed and argued my actual topic for more than an hour,” junior Brian Smith said. “I also went to ask Professor Fea questions about my culminating project topic after the lecture, and we had a good discussion of my topic.”

A good portion of the attendants of the lecture consisted of parents who came along with their CGS students. They expressed a very positive view about how the lecture went and how it enriched the knowledge of not only students but adults also.

“I think he provided a good example of how to maintain a neutral stance on a touchy issue,” Sarah Chase, mother of Elizabeth Chase, said.

Several faculty members at Stafford High School wore Torrey Smith jerseys to school on Friday, Jan. 13, to show their support for Stafford alumnus Torrey Smith.

Smith was an outstanding quarterback for the varsity team while he was at SHS.  He was elected homecoming king his senior year.

Smith went on to sign a football scholarship with the University of Maryland where he was an outstanding wide receiver breaking Maryland’s record in yards.  Smith was drafted in the second round by the Ravens in last year’s NFL draft.

Smith was named the NFL player of the week when his first three touches on the ball resulted in three catches for touchdowns.  Smith has proven a valuable players for the Ravens.  This weekend he plays in his first NFL/AFL playoff game.

The faculty wore his shirts with pride.  Several faculty members were not available for the photo but they are supporting Smith’s efforts this weekend.

Seniors Griffin and Cooke run the Smoke Signal, managing a staff of 150 students and putting out a paper every two weeks.  Griffin is in charge of the X day paper while Cooke is in charge of the Y day paper.

Griffin has been assistant editor-in-chief and was promoted to editor-in-chief in early November.  Cooke has been the photography editor until Elexxus Brown moved to Maryland giving up her position.  Cooke was named her replacement.

The editorial board has been revising the staff manual with hopes of having the administration approved the paper as a designated open forum for student discussion.  Several elements have been proposed to the manual to describe staff position duties and procedures for the Smoke Signal.

Each block of journalism has discussed new ideas, story topics and new elements to add to the paper.  Many of these ideas will be added as students iron out the details.

The most recent activity of the Smoke Signal is recruiting students from the rising ninth grade class at the orientation to be held on Jan. 18 beginning at 7 p.m.

The editorial board has been working on revising the Staff Manual to show all procedures and descriptions of the positions on staff.

Emily Griffin and Shannon Cooke, editors-in-chief

The boys and girls soccer teams have begun their after school conditioning workouts.  Coach Gaesser has been pushing them hard in order to make sure they are ready for the season.  According to the players, they definitely have a set goal that will rive and push the players forward this season.

“Our goal is to make either 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd at the districts this year. It’s going to be a lot of work, but we’re all ready to take the challenge and we have faith in it,” junior and varsity soccer player Julio Bernal said.

Recently, the teams have been doing interval training.  This involves alternating between sprinting and jogging. The coaches are having them focus on changing their pace, which is necessary during games.

“Although it’s physically really tough, I’ve been enjoying the interval training because Gaesser is pushing us so we can do our best. It’s conditioning us, and I’ve seen a lot of improvement already,” sophomore and JV soccer player Ana Nosal said.

The players have also been doing full body circuits. These involve exercises that work both upper and lower body at the same time, helping the players to strengthen every part of the body instead of just one area.

“The conditioning itself is hard. Really hard. But it’s worthwhile as well,” Bernal said. “The conditioning we’re doing now will surely shape all of us up for the upcoming season which we are all ready for.”

Boys Cross Country State Champions 2011

Assistant Online Editor

On Friday Sept. 23, the sophomore Governor’s school class
had a masked ball in celebration of ending their study of Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing.

The sophomores read the play as part of their summer
homework, as well as making a mask representing a character that they were each
assigned.

“I thought they [masks] were extraordinarily creative,
especially with their use of symbolism.,” said Winona Siegmund, Governor’s
school English teacher.

Each student was responsible for bringing in a food or
drink, their mask, and memorizing three lines for their character.

“It was cool getting to act like my character,” sophomore
Christian Wiskur said. “Memorizing the lines gave me the chance to learn more
about my character.”

During the “ball” the students put their knowledge of the
play to use by wearing their masks, enjoying their treats, and performing their
lines.

“Although it wasn’t
really focused on the play, it was a good opportunity,” sophomore Madison
Stroud said. “I thought it was a good way to incorporate our projects and
studies into an activity.

The dye used was from a kit that was bought at a local craft store. Students attempted several different styles and techniques to try and find the best way to make the design. The three techniques used were the bull’s-eye, swirl, and crumple.

The bull’s-eye technique is used to make an appearance of a bullseye and is made by pulling the center of the shirt up in to a long cylindrical spire and is then tied off and dyed in sections.

The swirl appearance is made by taking the shirt and twisting the shirt to a swirl and then tied and dyed. Many students attempted the technique.

“It was pretty simple and it came out looking very cool,” sophomore Megan Corsano said.

The crumple technique involves taking the shirt and swirling and wrinkling the fabric to create layers, then the layers are dyed with different colors to create a unique look.

“It looked really cool,” senior Matt Yelverton said.  “And it did not take a lot of work.”

“The way the team played, you could tell they were
giving it their all. It was all for Ali. I couldn’t be more proud to be an
Indian right now, honestly,” junior Harper Lovegrove said.

After the game was over, it was reported that the
Indians, both the players and the crowd, loudly and repeatedly shouted Ali’s
name to commemorate the victory they have achieved even though he is now gone.

“At the end of the game, the team ran out on the field to
celebrate their beloved teammate and it was a moving experience with tears and people chanting Ali’s name,”
junior Brian Smith said.