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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Teen artists recently submitted their best creations to the Scholastic Art & Writing competition designed for artists, photographers and writers.
Several different types of prizes can be awarded to those who submit, beginning with recognition in either a regional or a national award. Each of these types of recognition consists of a gold, silver and honorable mention category.
According to the Scholastic website, artandwriting.org, “approximately seven to ten percent of all regional submissions are recognized with Gold Key Awards and all are considered for national-level recognition.”
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