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General Election to be held in UK on July 4

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General Election to be held in UK on July 4

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Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has called a general election to be held on July 4, 2024. The UK uses a parliamentary system, meaning that each constituency elects a member of parliament or MP, who then vote to decide what laws will be passed, without a president. The Conservative Party, which has governed Britain since 2010 and is now deeply unpopular, is expected to lose many seats, and the Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, is expected to win enough seats to form a government. Sunak is legally required to call an election by January 28, and his decision to call one so soon has baffled many. Both the Conservative Party and the Scottish National Party, one of Labour’s biggest rivals in Scotland, have been embroiled in scandal recently, with the Conservatives’ last prime minister, Liz Truss, serving for only 45 days in September and October 2022, making her the shortest-serving PM in British history. In addition, the right-wing Reform UK party is projected to take votes from the Conservatives.

Read more from The Guardian.

By Theo Fetter-Degges - Volume 4 - End of Year 2024 Edition

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State of Emergency Lifted in New Caledonia

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State of Emergency Lifted in New Caledonia

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On Tuesday, May 28 in Noumea, the largest city in New Caledonia, the state of emergency imposed by France on May 16 was lifted. In the same address where France announced the lifting of the state of emergency, it was also announced that 480 more police officers would be deployed as reinforcements, in addition to the 3,000 already there. New Caledonia, which is about 17,000 kilometers from Paris, is a French collectivity (former colony and overseas territory) in the Pacific Ocean inhabited by the indigenous Kanak people, who make up about 40% of the population, in addition to French settlers. Unrest, including riots, began recently because of a proposed change that would extend provincial voting rights to anyone who had lived in New Caledonia for 10 years or more, as opposed to the current system, which only allows provincial voting rights to those who had lived there prior to 1998 and their children (excluding 40,000 French citizens who have moved there since then).

Read more from Al Jazeera (1, 2).

By Theo Fetter-Degges - Volume 4 - End of Year 2024 Edition

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VS GIRLS ROWING NEWEST ADDITION TO ATHLETICS PROGRAM 

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VS GIRLS ROWING NEWEST ADDITION TO ATHLETICS PROGRAM 

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The Unity Boat Club (UBC) has officially partnered with DCI as of this year, and the Varsity Girls Rowing team is being recognized for their incredible achievements.

This was made possible from the efforts of Caden Coleman, a DCI junior and the team captain of the Varsity Boys Rowing team. Realizing most Unity Boat Club members from the high school teams were DCI students, Coleman expressed interest in forming a scholastic team to row under DCI. UBC currently sponsors both the VS Girls and Boys Rowing teams, providing the equipment, travel costs, and gear, while they row under DC International.

Junior Maria Hernandez Najera is a coxswain on the Varsity Girls Rowing team. “And now it’s actually a certified thing, we row for DCI,” she said.

They are competing and thriving in competitive regattas like the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Rowing Association (WMIRA), where multiple schools in the DC and Maryland area attend. The team qualified for finals, and placed 5th in the DMV area.

They soon moved onto Stotesbury, the largest high school regatta in the world, with teams from all over the nation, and all over the globe competing. The team placed top 20 in their time trials.

Both Coach Lexi and Junior Hernandez Najera discuss heavily their hopes of expanding interest and growing their roster.

“I think long term goals definitely tie into our current goals and what's important is definitely creating a larger roster and being able to be a larger presence, both in the DCI community and in the general DMV area,” said Coach Lexi.

By Ana Inskeep - Volume 4 - End of Year 2024 Edition

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DCI HS Robotics Complete Tournament Circuit

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DCI HS Robotics Complete Tournament Circuit

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DCI High School Robotics team 4821 cyberUs won a qualifying tournament on the weekend of March 16th. They at first placed 29th out of 30 teams due to varied technical issues throughout their 12 matches. These issues ranged from just simple controller and technical malfunctions to damaging game pieces beyond repair. Despite this loss, they were picked by the 2nd and 3rd best team to be in their alliance due to them realizing how they were better than the ranking showed. They then won six matches in a row in the playoffs to seal their win for the event “It was super fun, because we were expecting to go home, we were packed up, we were ready to go,” said 10th grader Meren Hoffpauir, who is the robotics team’s business team. “We were like, just all over the place,”

They then moved on to their next tournament, where they placed 21st out of 34, which was just out of the range for playoffs, and then were not picked for an alliance. “It was rather disappointing because we were just one match away from going to regionals”, says Meren.

“It [the robot] was more robust and had less design problems,” said Julian Hurst, 11th grade. “but we still had a lot of malfunctions during the tournament.”

This second tournament was mainly highlighted by DCI beating 1731, indisputably the best team in the whole tournament, if not the whole region. They even had a winning streak of the entire tournament, until in the last match when DCI beat them after coming back from just fixing their robot. As Meren put it, “We were super proud to know that the only time they lost this season was to us.”

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 4 - End of Year 2024 Edition

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The 2024 NFL Draft happened from April 25th to 27th, in Detroit, Michigan, at the Campus Maritus Park and Hart Plaza. A record number of quarterbacks were drafted in the first round, 6. This figure includes first pick Caleb Williams, a DC native out of USC, who was drafted by the Chicago Bears. The Washington Commanders, who had the second pick, decided on Jayden Daniels, another quarterback, from Louisiana State University.

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 4 - End of Year 2024 Edition

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Copa America to kick of this summer in the US

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Copa America to kick of this summer in the US

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The 48th edition of the quadrennial Copa America competition will begin this summer on June 20th, starring 16 teams from North and South America, from countries like Argentina, México, and the US. This is one of the largest and most important international soccer tournaments across the Americas, second only to the world cup. It has been run since 1916, and features big names such as Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr, and Christian Pulisic, and is a prelude to the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted also by the US. The Final will occur on July 14th, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 4 - End of Year 2024 Edition

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New Strain of COVID Variants Have Been Discovered

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New Strain of COVID Variants Have Been Discovered

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a new set of COVID variants have been discovered, the group is nicknamed FLiRT.

PhD professor in molecular microbiology and immunology Andy Pekosz explains that the variants that are a part of FLiRT include KP.2, JN.1.7, and other variants that begin with KP and JN. All of the variants of FLiRT originate from the JN.1 variant that has been the most prevalent variant in the United States for the last couple of months.

From the end of April to the beginning of May, a variant called KP.2, which is a part of FLiRT, has been responsible  for 28% of COVID cases in the United States, beating JN.1. Currently the JN.1 variant has caused 16% of COVID cases in the same span of weeks.

Unfortunately, only 22.6% of adults are up-to-date on their COVID vaccination. Adults that are 75 years old and above are the most likely to have an updated COVID vaccination, due to them being the most susceptible group to COVID. Adults should receive all of the necessary vaccinations  to keep themselves and their loved ones safe from this newest strain of COVID.

Information from: USAToday

By Sonia Erikson - Volume 4 - End of Year Edition

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Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Has Been the Highest Grossing Tour To-Date

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Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Has Been the Highest Grossing Tour To-Date

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Taylor Swift is an extremely popular American singer and pop icon. She was born in 1989 in West Reading, Pennsylvania and has been writing songs professionally since the age of 14.

Swift began garnering attention in 2005. When she was 15, she signed a record deal with Big Machine Records and one of the many songs she produced with that label was  “Tim McGraw”, which was her first song to break the Top 40 hits.

The Eras Tour started on March 17th, 2023 and is set to end on December 8th, 2024. During this tour, Swift is performing songs across all of her musical eras and albums.

The Eras Tour is international—there will be 152 shows spanning across the United States, Argentina, Australia, Singapore, France, Sweden, Portugal, Brazil, Spain, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands,  Mexico, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Japan, Poland, Austria, Canada, and more.

So far Swift has earned $1.04 billion from the Eras Tour alone, making it the highest grossing tour ever. Furthermore, the movie version of the tour titled “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” is the most lucrative film adaptation of a concert ever and has brought in $250 million in sales. In fact, experts believe that Swift will make at least $2 billion by the end of the tour.

Swift’s tour is the first in history to have made over a billion dollars in revenue, a previously unprecedented number. After only a day, tickets to see the movie adaptation of the tour in theaters had sold out. Swift’s devoted fans who are lucky enough to have tickets to a concert are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the singer.

Information from: APNews

By Sonia Erikson - Volume 4 - End of Year Edition

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not my pie- just the best image I could find. 

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Tired of wanting to cook but not having half the fancy ingredients? No worries! No Shopping Trip Required strives to create recipes you can use without a …. shopping trip. There’ll also be quick tips sprinkled throughout to help you make use of leftovers, make quick snacks, improve food, and make this world a greener place!

Recipe: pretzel pie! Ever went down to the cafeteria to get an afterschool snack, and ended up getting pretzels you didn’t want? Well, here's a secret- if you gather enough pretzels, you’ll be able to make a pie crust! And not just any crust- a CRUMBLE crust. Crumble crusts go great with things like key lime pie, cheesecake, and as a substitute for regular pie crust.

FIRST you’ll need to preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

SECOND you'll need pretzels, and you’ll need 1 and ¼ cups of them ground up into tiny little crumbs. You’ll also need 8 tablespoons of melted butter (unsalted is best), and ¼ cups of sugar. Brown sugar, sugar in the raw, and regular white sugar all work fine.

THIRD, get a bowl and mix all the ingredients together. next, press the mixture into the sides and bottom of your pie tin until it looks kind of like the image above. but don't worry about it if it isn't perfect. if you're having trouble, try doing the bottom first, and then building up the sides.

fourth, pop it in the oven for 10 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. this is the best way to ensure you have a nice crunch to your crust. finally, let it cool down once it's out of the oven.

viola! your crust is complete! you can fill it with whatever, or store it in the fridge for a later baking day! I hope you enjoyed this recipe!

Quick tips: if your food is ever way too spicy, try rinsing off the spices and starting over. It dulls down the spices and gives you a chance to try again. But personally, my favorite thing to do when food is too spicy, is adding honey! It really helps keep the flavor.

Sources Used: https://katherinesasser.com/a-guide-to-press-in-crusts/#recipe

By Sedona Powell - Volume 4 - End of Year Edition

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The last few months, I have been challenging myself to learn to cook new interesting food using only ingredients I had at home- and boy has it been tough. I wanted to have a little more choice over what I ate, and I wanted to be able to try new foods and have fun experiences without having to go out. It went well at first, and I made a plan and everything. I experimented with foods I already ate, trying to change them up and give them a new taste, or a little kick. I even started reading old cookbooks! But towards the middle of this experiment, I got a little off track. I got side tracked by homework and assignments and social media, and completely forgot about cooking. I tried different spices every once and a while, but sorta fell into a slump. New experiences sorta brighten up my day, and there's actually studies that show new experiences improve mental health. But doing new things is hard, especially cooking. Especially when you have limited ingredients. Doing the same thing just felt easier to do. But I finally managed to stop procrastinating and cook something. I made some mini peach pies, and while they were disgusting, I had cooked a pie from scratch using only ingredients I had at home! I did have to stitch several recipes together, and use multiple substitutes, but it worked! Challenge crushed! Slump over! Rainbows everywhere!

But seriously. This blog wasn’t just made to share my success. It was made to share new fun recipes I learn and create as I continue through my cooking journey. Hope you enjoy it!

By Sedona Powell - Volume 4 - End of Year Edition

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Failed Police Dog Rescues People in Taiwan after a 7.4 Earthquake

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Failed Police Dog Rescues People in Taiwan after a 7.4 Earthquake

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In the beginning of April 2024, a 7.4  earthquake hit Taipei, Taiwan. This earthquake caused multiple buildings to partially collapse and provoked landslides. Fortunately, a labrador named Roger was present and able to locate 13 people.

Roger could not become a drug-sniffing dog due to his affectionate demeanor. Nevertheless, he helped the police find people trapped under the rubble after the earthquake struck Taipei. The Taiwanese public adore Roger and similar rescue dogs since their assistance saved lives.

Roger was originally supposed to be a drug-sniffing dog but his friendliness often distracted him—impairing his ability to identify drugs.

During an interview with his handler for the media, you can see Roger in the background wagging his tail. He even darted towards the microphone, showing his exuberance.

When he was one, Roger’s career path changed. He began rescue training school. The captain of the rescue dog unit of the Kaohsiung Fire Department, Chen Chih-san, said that Roger was restless and independent, and these were exactly the traits rescue dogs need.

Roger is currently 8-years-old and has aided in the recovery of many individuals after earthquakes. He has partaken in several operations to locate people. In fact, back in 2018 for his first mission, he rescued people from the aftermath of a 6.4 earthquake in Taipei.

On social media, people loved Roger and the other rescue dogs for their efforts to save people. One person said, “Keep it up, heroes and little heroes”.

Roger is a very impressive rescue dog, in 2022 he was the first Taiwanese dog to be certified by the International Rescue Dog Organization since 2019.

Soon Roger will be able to enjoy a well-deserved retirement since all dogs working with the Kaohsiung Fire Department go to a home once they turn 9-years-old.

Information from:  KOAT Action News

By Sonia Erikson - Volume 4 - End of Year Edition

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DCI HS Robotics Complete Tournament Circuit

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DCI HS Robotics Complete Tournament Circuit

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DCI High School Robotics team 4821 cyberUs won a qualifying tournament on the weekend of March 16th. They at first placed 29th out of 30 teams due to varied technical issues throughout their 12 matches. These issues ranged from just simple controller and technical malfunctions to damaging game pieces beyond repair. Despite this loss, they were picked by the 2nd and 3rd best team to be in their alliance due to them realizing how they were better than the ranking showed. They then won six matches in a row in the playoffs to seal their win for the event “It was super fun, because we were expecting to go home, we were packed up, we were ready to go,” said 10th grader Meren Hoffpauir, who is the robotics team’s business team. “We were like, just all over the place,”

They then moved on to their next tournament, where they placed 21st out of 34, which was just out of the range for playoffs, and then were not picked for an alliance. “It was rather disappointing because we were just one match away from going to regionals”, says Meren.

“It [the robot] was more robust and had less design problems,” said Julian Hurst, 11th grade. “but we still had a lot of malfunctions during the tournament.”

This second tournament was mainly highlighted by DCI beating 1731, indisputably the best team in the whole tournament, if not the whole region. They even had a winning streak of the entire tournament, until in the last match when DCI beat them after coming back from just fixing their robot. As Meren put it, “We were super proud to know that the only time they lost this season was to us.”

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 4 - End of Year Edition

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(For example, oatmeal with cinnamon and bananas)

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If you want to stay warm during cold times, try foods with cinnamon, whole grains like oats, and foods with magnesium like bananas.

Oat based foods like oatmeal, as well as adding cinnamon to foods, can help warm you up!

Information from: Radcliffe labs

By Sedona Powell - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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Wendy's Employee Performs CPR on Unconscious Man, Saving his Life

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Wendy's Employee Performs CPR on Unconscious Man, Saving his Life

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Alexandria Cowherd is a 22-year-old nursing student at Bluegrass Community & Technical College and an employee at Wendy’s, who was able to use her CPR training to save a customer’s life.

In a Wendy’s on Richmond Road in Lexington, Kentucky, Cowherd was working at the cash register when a colleague told her of the situation unfolding in the parking lot.

A man had fallen unconscious in the parking lot, and his heart had stopped. Without intervention, he would have died within a few minutes. Fortunately Cowherd was nearby, and she rushed over when she was informed of the situation.

She called 911 and approached the man’s body. The color of the man’s face alerted her to the severity of the predicament.

Cowherd described how at first she froze, uncertain as to how to handle the situation. She recalled, “I kind of short-circuited a little bit before I was like, ‘Girl, you know how to do CPR.’”

After 15 minutes, the man finally gasped for air, showing some signs of recovery. The ambulance arrived soon after. Thanks to Cowherd’s efforts, the customer is expected to survive.

Cowherd is currently working towards becoming a certified nurse, she is attending an eight week program at BCTC. She learned how to do CPR when she was a senior in high school.

Once the ordeal was over, Cowherd even returned to finish her shift. She said when interviewed, “I helped a man, and I am proud of myself for that.”

Information from: USA Today

By Sonia Erikson - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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On Saturday, January 27th,  DCI hosted Homecoming in the gym from 7:00 to 11:00, with the theme of ‘City Nights’. Chicken nuggets, empanadas, Doritos, drinks, and candies were provided. Students could also take photos at a photo booth at the back of the gym, and furniture from the lounges were scattered around.

Attendees described the dance as “lively”, and “fun”.  Others mentioned the music being too loud, and poor song taste when selecting music.

At the dance, a 12th grade King and Queen, an 11th grade Prince and Princess, and a 10th or 9th grade Duke and Duchess were voted on and crowned.

Dwight Hayman and Vanae Biddix were crowned King and Queen. Bradshaw Cuff and Lana Washington won the crown for Prince and Princess. Collin Jackson and Siena Corbitt were appointed 10th grade Duke and 9th grade Duchess.

Vanae Biddix and Lana Washington are both student athletes who are on the Principal’s List and list both accomplishments as reasons why people voted for them.

When asked who he would like to thank for his role of Homecoming King, Dwight Hayman said, “I’d like to thank my friends for helping me campaign and run and my mom for helping me get my outfit together.”

By Anya Lilly - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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DCI Robotics Team At Reigonals: Stem and Space Feature Story

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DCI Robotics Team At Reigonals: Stem and Space Feature Story

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DCI Robotics’s three FTC teams competed in their second qualifying tournament on January 27th, at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Southern Maryland.

This was the first time a DCI Middle School robotics team has been at a regional tournament since the 2017-18 season, when DCI first offered Middle school robotics.

The team luminUs earned 10th place, team nexUs earned 4th, and team mobiUs earned 1st place. MobiUs and nexUs were also finalists in the  playoffs. In addition team mobiUs also won the Design award and went 5-0 in their regular matches.

Originally, these accolades did not guarantee either team a place in regionals, but that changed when a team dropped out. They would be able to compete in regionals the following Saturday due to being the highest ranked team that didn’t make it into regionals.

“It was very overwhelming,” said Frederick Tan, the lead coach of mobiUs. “We’re just expecting to have fun, then suddenly we're in first place.”

“I felt really accomplished knowing that this is the first time in eight years,” Said Alexander Bilodeau, one of the lead drivers of mobiUs.

At regionals on February 3rd, mobiUs went 1-4, and placed 22nd. This was a disappointing result for the team, but as Alexander Bilodeau put it, “we still got to go to regionals, and I love that experience.”

“I would say it’s an opportunity you wouldn’t want to miss out on,” said Frederick Tan after being asked about robotics as a whole. “It’ll open more opportunities and doors as you get older, as well as job opportunities.”

Just try and learn everything you can, how to build, how to code,” said Bilodeau. If you are interested in joining robotics, talk to Mr. Donovan in GD04 or sign up for ACE.

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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Although AI (Artificial Intelligence) has been around since the 1950s, it has gained recent popularity in schools, including DCI.

The concept of a computer being able to think has been around for centuries, but the foundations of its real life application have a more recent history.  And all of this led up to the release of ChatGPT in November 2022.

ChatGPT is considered the main platform for much of AI use. Regardless of the short period of time it’s been around, it has already gained an infamous reputation. It frequently plagiarizes and can be used as a method of cheating. Students having the ability to cheat with AI is the issue many educators have been worried about and trying to solve. Some recommend blocking websites, others recommend assigning only work on paper, and a large group believe that there is no solution.

Ms. Thomas, the school librarian, prefers to look at the positive side of AI use. When asked whether or not AI is a threat to the academic program, Ms. Thomas responded, “No. I think it can only be seen as something that adds value. I'm not threatened by it. I don't think that anything truly will ever replace human interaction, face to face conversations and things like that.”

But, of course, this is not always the case. An anonymous student revealed in an interview that they, including many students, use AI for homework answers for Math, English, and Science class. ChatGPT isn’t the only culprit. Now, there’s Snapchat AI and many other platforms. The anonymous student stated, “They can block the websites and tools, but we can still get it on our phones or computers at home. They can’t really stop us.”

Despite mentioning misuse of AI, Ms. Thomas remained equally optimistic, stating, “I kind of have the philosophy that students usually cheat because they are out of time or because they don't actually have the skills and knowledge to do the task… Cheating didn't get invented with AI. And, I also think that it's our responsibility as teachers to design tasks and lessons for students that are appropriate requests of their time. And, to also make sure that we teach students to have the skills to do things.”

Our school’s community can utilize AI in a way that is beneficial. As Ms. Thomas stated above, teachers have a huge role in this. We, as students, should use AI tools with integrity and responsibility. But, there is always the possibility of these tools being misused. To solve this issue, a New York Times article on this subject stated that AI tools should be treated like calculators. Allowed for some assignments, but not all, and it is to be assumed that students are using them if they have no supervision. There is no way to completely prevent use of AI, so we must learn to work with it in an informed way, not against it.  It is with this same optimistic approach that we will make peace with AI.

By Anya Lilly - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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The Model UN Gala will take place on April 3rd from 3:45 to 7:30 at the cafeteria. Movies will be shown from 3:45 to 7:00 and the gala itself will occur from 6:30 to 7:30.

Attendance is free, but if you wish to eat food and participate in the silent auction, you have to pay 10 dollars for a ticket. You have to RSVP your ticket, the link is provided below.

https://dcinternationalschool.networkforgood.com/events/65474-dci-model-united-nations-fundraiser-2024

By Sonia Erikson

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Kansas City Chiefs Beat San Francisco 49ers in Overtime

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Kansas City Chiefs Beat San Francisco 49ers in Overtime

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Super Bowl LVIII took place on the Sunday of February 11th. Though the 49ers were the first team to score, the Chiefs beat the opposing team during overtime. This win was the Chiefs’ third Super Bowl title since 2019.

This Super Bowl garnered approximately 123.7 million viewers across the country, making it the most popular Super Bowl to date.

Many celebrities attended this game, such as Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Kim Kardashian. These celebrities as well as Taylor Swift’s relationship to Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce likely contributed to the large quantity of viewers.

Usher performed at the halftime show, along with Alicia Keys, H.E.R.,  Ludacris, will.i.am, Jermaine Dupri, and Lil Jon. Usher and Alicia Keys performed her hit song “If I Ain’t Got You” and followed with their song “My Boo”.

The Super Bowl took place in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Allegiant Stadium. Fans from both sides poured in to support their preferred team. However, there were more 49ers’ fans present; as a result of the proximity of Las Vegas to San Francisco.

It was an evenly matched game, with the 49ers primarily leading the Chiefs by a few points. 28-year-old Patrick Mahomes was the MVP of this Super Bowl, he has won this impressive award three times so far.

With 13 seconds left, Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw the football to wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr., scoring a touchdown that won the Kansas City Chiefs the Super Bowl.

Information from: AP News

By Sonia Erikson - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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On February 13, 2024, Michigan's repeal of its right-to-work laws went into effect. Michigan is the first state in over 60 years to repeal such a law, which prevented employees from being obligated to join (and pay for) a union. The repeal, a priority for the state's Democratic trifecta that took power in 2023, was praised by labor advocates. However, it does not affect public-sector workers, like teachers, because of a 2018 federal Supreme Court ruling.

Read more from WOODTV.

By Theo Fetter-Degges - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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Myanmar Resistance Makes Gains Against Junta Forces

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Myanmar Resistance Makes Gains Against Junta Forces

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In recent months, the resistance against the Myanmar military junta has made significant gains against the government. The junta came to power in a coup slightly over three years ago, on February 1, 2021. When the military responded to protests against the coup with violence, protestors fought back against the junta, forming armed organizations known as “people’s defense forces” (PDFs). These PDFs and their allies have recently made gains along Myanmar’s border with China, as well as on the other side of the country in the Chin and Rakhine states.

Read more at Al-Jazeera and The Guardian.

By Theo Fetter-Degges - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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Myanmar's anti-coup forces have made major gains in recent months [AFP]

On February 1, 2021, a military coup in Myanmar sparked widespread nonviolent protests that quickly turned into an armed uprising after the military responded with brutal force.

Ethnic armed organisations fighting for autonomy along the country's borders also joined the anti-coup groups in a war, which has since reached an unprecedented scale in Myanmar's history.

Keep reading

Resistance forces share not only a common enemy but also a desire to overturn Myanmar's military-dominated political system and establish a federal democracy that grants the right to self-determination for its ethnic minorities.

Al Jazeera spoke with four people who are part of the armed resistance.

They come from different backgrounds and are serving with different groups, but nonetheless share the same broad political goals, as well as a will to advance a more just and equitable society.

They are using their noms de guerre to protect their families from military reprisals.

Ma Wai, 32, Bamar People's Liberation Army

The BPLA, established in April 2021 by activist and poet Maung Saungkha, is the country's only armed resistance group identifying with the ethnic Bamar majority, and which specifically seeks to combat the dominant role of Bamar people in Myanmar society. Since late October, it has taken an active role in Operation 1027, a joint offensive that has brought major gains for anti-coup forces.

Ma Wai returned to her village in the Bago region from Dubai during the pandemic, with a plan to go back and resume her job as a chef at a four-star hotel once travel restrictions eased. Then the coup happened, and she joined street demonstrations instead.

Weeks later, soldiers and police were firing live rounds, and Ma Wai was tending to a wounded protester. "I saw the blood flowing with my own eyes," she said. "The incident was so vivid and devastating that it will haunt me for the rest of my life."

Soon, her peers were taking up arms in the jungle, but Ma Wai initially hesitated to join them. Her job in Dubai had provided the main source of income for her widowed mother and two younger brothers, who are both in their 20s, and she worried about how they would get by if she didn't go back.

Still, her commitment to resisting the military won out, and she confided her decision to her brother the day before her planned departure for the jungle. "He told me, 'Sister, you're a girl, so don't go. As a boy. I can do more, so I'm supposed to go,'" she recalled.

Ultimately, however, their mother gave them both her blessing. "[She] decided, 'You both should go as you made this decision for the people,'" said Ma Wai.

In May of 2021, she and her brother enlisted in one of thousands of groups forming across the country at the time, commonly known as people's defence forces (PDFs). Like many PDFs, theirs was based in the territory of the Karen National Union, Myanmar's oldest ethnic armed organisation. Although it signed a ceasefire with the military in 2012, it has resumed its fight for self-determination since the coup, while also participating in the country's wider pro-democracy struggle.

Ma Wai joined the resistance intending to fight until the end, but her plans soon began to falter. Her PDF's leaders seemed not to have a clear plan for its recruits, who began returning to their towns and villages after completing the group's 10-day military training.

"I knew that the training wasn't enough for me to fight against the military, but when I thought about returning home, I didn't want to go back either," said Ma Wai. "I really wanted to connect with a group that could provide weapons and train us well."

The opportunity came that August, through a chance encounter with BPLA leader Maung Saungkha. As he spoke about the group's philosophy and approach, as well as its equal treatment of women and men, Ma Wai's direction became clear. "I felt that he wasn't talking like an election campaign, but expressing his determination, vision and mission," she said. "I realised that this was the kind of group I wanted to join."

Her brother came to the same decision, and soon after, they were climbing rugged mountains in the heavy rain and linking arms with their new comrades to cross rushing streams. When they reached their new camp, they underwent a training programme far more rigorous than the first - so much so that Ma Wai's legs became stiff and swollen, and her trainers told her to seek medical attention.

Realising her limitations, she said, was even harder than enduring the ache in her legs. "The trainers didn't allow me to continue even though I straightened up and tried to force myself," she said. "It was the most painful moment for me."

She later completed the training after receiving treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency and began serving in a logistical role to manage the distribution of rations to BPLA soldiers. A year later, she was transferred to the finance and support department, and now supervises the BPLA's administration office.

Ma Wai estimates that while one-tenth of the BPLA's members are female, women make up about a third of people serving in leadership roles. While Ma Wai said she hasn't faced any discrimination as a woman, she acknowledged that she initially had to work extra hard to demonstrate her capabilities, especially to some of her male comrades.

"Sometimes ... they looked at me as if I didn't know anything, but that was in the early days," she said. "When we worked together, they came to understand me more and appreciate my talent."

She has also undergone a personal transformation, as she learns about the Myanmar military's brutal history against the country's ethnic minorities and reflects on her own identity as a member of the ethnic Bamar majority.

"In the past, I neglected to know about the [other] ethnic groups, their suffering and losses, and I acted like it wasn't my business," she said. "I also didn't notice that I was privileged as a Bamar."

Serving in the BPLA has also offered her the chance to study political theory. "Before this armed revolution, I called and shouted for federal democracy for our country in protests, but honestly, I didn't really know why this system was important for our country or what federalism or democracy were," she said. "I became aware of why Myanmar people are asking for it with their blood and sweat ... If the political system is bad, I know how much the people of the country will be affected."

Khun, 31, Karenni Nationalities Defence Forces

The Karenni Nationalities Defence Forces (KNDF) is a coalition of armed resistance groups in Myanmar's southeastern Karenni State (also known as Kayah State). Peaceful for nearly a decade leading up to the coup, the state has since seen heavy fighting, which despite a major disparity in arms, has resulted in major gains for resistance forces. Since launching a new operation in November, they have been closing in on the state capital and coming nearer to liberating the entire state from military control.

A migrant worker in Malaysia until 2019, Khun returned to his village in Karenni State's Demoso township at a time when opportunities for young people were opening up under the Aung San Suu Kyi-led semi-civilian government. The coup, however, crushed his optimism. "I lost all my dreams and felt depressed," he said.

He began leading protests in his village, and when his peers started joining the armed resistance soon after, helped to arrange their rations and supplies. He also coordinated their food and accommodation when they passed through his village, even as the military scaled up its campaign of bombing, shelling and raids on civilian areas, in a strategy known as four cuts, which seeks to cut off civilian support to resistance groups.

Demoso township was a particular target, and Khun, like most others from the area, has been repeatedly displaced. "The military council always attacks us at irregular times, like when people are asleep," he said. "These attacks really affect our mentality, and leave us depressed and disturbed."

Wanting to do more for the resistance, Khun joined the KNDF in January of 2022. "In this revolution, I'm trying my best to participate in every way, whether by saving a life or fetching a bucket of water," he said, referencing a Burmese proverb: "A single sesame seed cannot produce much oil, which requires the use of many seeds."

He said the decision was motivated not by vengeance, but by a desire to bring positive change to his society. "Our [Karenni] ethnic people need and want self-determination and autonomy, and to be able to practise our culture and language," he said. "I want us to have a nation where people of all ethnicities can coexist, and for there to be genuine peace."

As an armed combatant, he also emphasised the importance of adhering to high ethical standards and international humanitarian law. "I want to have a clear conscience in this revolution," he said.

Now overseeing rations distribution and fundraising for his battalion, while also helping to coordinate humanitarian support for displaced civilians, his work has become significantly harder since fighting began intensifying in November.

Displacement has surged, while the military has also cut off telecommunications access across the entire state. Khun spoke to Al Jazeera using Starlink, a satellite-based technology owned by billionaire Elon Musk which several resistance forces in Myanmar began using last year.

The associated costs and equipment have left the technology out of reach for most common civilians, however, including Khun's family. To communicate with them, he has to travel by motorbike to their displacement site, crossing terrain riven by conflict and landmines. A recent surge in fuel prices has also strained his ability to make the trip.

Still, he expressed optimism when considering the state of the Karenni resistance, which began with percussion-lock rifles and other hunting weapons and is now a well-organised force equipped with drones and machine guns.

"In the past, we had to defend ourselves, but now, we're attacking," said Khun.

Nehemiah, 23, Chin National Army

Established in 1988, the Chin National Front entered a ceasefire with the military in 2012 but resumed its armed struggle after the coup, while also training and supporting newly-formed resistance groups through its armed wing, the Chin National Army. Since late October, the CNA and allied Chin forces have seized strategic posts at the Indian border and driven out the military from multiple towns and villages.

Nehemiah, from a village in Chin State's Thantlang township, dropped out of university to join the CNA in 2019, when he was 19, out of a desire to protect the land inhabited by his ethnic people and promote the establishment of an autonomous Chin nation.

Since the CNF was in a ceasefire with the military at the time, he travelled 5,000 kilometres (3,107 miles) to Myanmar's northeastern border with China, where he trained instead under the Kachin Independence Army, one of Myanmar's strongest ethnic armed organisations.

When he returned home months after the coup, it was to a dramatically different situation. Anti-military sentiments had merged with a surge in Chin nationalism and the CNA's numbers had swelled. More than a dozen new resistance groups had also emerged, many with the CNF's support.

"After witnessing innocent people being killed without reason and experiencing the brutality of the Myanmar military, many people became more accepting of the armed revolution," said Nehemiah.

Now serving as a brigade captain, he has spent most of his time on the front line, applying the skills he learned in Kachin to fight the military on Myanmar's northwestern front

"The thing I am most proud of is that when we joined the battles, we stood firmly with our young subordinates and supported them with kindness, and that I complied with the chain of command from my seniors," he said.

But in a state known for its remote, mountainous terrain and high linguistic diversity, coordination has at times been difficult. "When it comes to our strengths and challenges, my response is very simple: unity and disunity," said Nehemiah.

He also expressed concern that over time, public support for the resistance might wane, and called for Chin people to come together so that the recent momentum on the battlefield could continue to accelerate. "Sooner or later, we will defeat the military if we all are united," he said. "Many of my people and friends lost their lives during this revolution, and a lot of innocent blood was shed, so I am determined to continue fighting until we win."

Noble, 24, People's Defence Force Dawei District

The People's Defence Force Dawei District, based in Myanmar's southernmost Tanintharyi region, is one of many resistance forces operating under the command of the National Unity Government, a parallel administration made up of elected politicians and activists who oppose the coup. Although the conflict in Tanintharyi has not reached the levels of intensity seen in many parts of the country, the region has nonetheless seen periods of intense fighting and displacement.

Noble, a university student union leader in Tanintharyi's regional capital of Dawei before the pandemic, is one of millions of students across Myanmar who boycotted classes after the coup as part of a wider civil disobedience movement. Active in nonviolent protests, she also participated in a campaign to convince the staff of her university to go on strike.

Fearing arrest, she left home shortly after the military power grab and began moving from place to place. Soldiers and police raided her home that November; unable to find her, they looted her family's valuables and arrested her mother and 17-year-old sister instead.

Her sister was released three days later, but her mother was given a two-year sentence for incitement, a charge the military has commonly levelled against activists and dissidents since the coup. It has also jailed hundreds of people by association; Noble's mother served a year and two months before being released in a prisoner amnesty.

Noble, for her part, enlisted in a PDF just a month after her mother's arrest. Assigned to a non-combat support role, she has since been travelling through remote, coastal areas where even fetching water can be difficult. "Sometimes, I even forget that I'm a woman," she said.

Just as she was getting accustomed to the new lifestyle, however, disaster struck. In September of 2022, military forces discovered her camp and encircled it as Noble and her comrades watched anxiously and began preparing for battle. They also called for reinforcements, but the military intercepted the attempt and arrested six of her comrades in the process. One escaped; Noble believes the other five are still in military custody.

Clashes erupted a few days later. Noble, who was still in the camp at the time along with two other comrades, received a message by walkie-talkie to begin a retreat. As they gathered the most essential items and fled to a safer place, a PDF member, who was serving as a scout during the camp evacuation, was shot in the hip.

"He tried to go to the place where we were gathering, but he couldn't reach it," said Noble. "We received a phone call from him saying that he had been injured and requesting help."

By the time Noble and her comrades reached him, dusk was setting in and rain was falling. As they attempted to dress the wound, they quickly realised they were ill-equipped to treat the 18-year-old fighter.

The next morning, they fastened him into a hammock and attempted to carry him to the nearest medical facility. But they struggled to find a route because there were so many military soldiers, and by the third day, the wound had become infected and the fighter died.

They buried him and continued walking for two more weeks in search of a place to set up camp, foraging for food along the way to supplement the last of their rice rations. They have since been working to regroup and rebuild, while also healing psychologically.

The experience, said Noble, has brought her closer to her comrades and also increased her empathy for displaced civilians. Although at times frustrated and discouraged, she said she gathers her strength by focusing on her comrades who lost their lives.

"Sometimes, it is uncomfortable for me to continue fighting and I want to return home, but when I feel that way, I consider that my fallen comrades would feel I had retreated halfway, and I want to continue," she said.

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Emily Fishbein,Jaw Tu Hkawng,Hpan Ja Brang

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'Blood and sweat': Myanmar resistance fights to overturn military coup

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Three years after the generals' power grab, anti-coup fighters say they want them out of Myanmar's politics.

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On September 26, the US government’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with the attorneys general of 17 US states, announced that they were suing Amazon. They allege that the company illegally suppresses its competition in order to maintain monopoly power. If this case proceeds to the Supreme Court, Amazon could be broken up into several smaller companies. However, this is an ongoing story that could play out over months, and we can’t say definitively what will happen right now.

Read more from CNN.

By Theo Fetter-Degges - Volume 1 - November Edition

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US government and 17 states sue Amazon in landmark monopoly case | CNN Business

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The US government and 17 states are suing Amazon in a landmark monopoly case reflecting years of allegations that the e-commerce giant abused its economic dominance and harmed fair competition.

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On September 22, Robert “Bob” Menendez, the senior US Senator from New Jersey and former chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with his wife, was federally charged with taking bribes in exchange for helping the Egyptian government and 3 businessmen from New Jersey. He allegedly took hundreds of thousands of dollars, gold bars, and luxury cars for his part in the scheme. He has denied all wrongdoing, but still stepped down from his committee chair position.

Read more from CBS.

By Theo Fetter-Degges - Volume 1 - November Edition

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On September 15, the United Auto Workers, a union representing more than 375,000 US manufacturing workers, began to strike against car makers General Motors, Ford Motor, and Stellantis. The union recently elected Shawn Fain, a hardliner who is much more radical than his predecessors, as president. Their demands include a four-day workweek and increased wages to combat the underpaying of new workers and inflation.

Read more from CNBC.

By Theo Fetter-Degges - Volume 1 - November Edition

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September of 2023 brought flooding to many parts of the world, including Las Vegas. In Libya, the cyclone Storm Daniel devastated the  northeast. The eastern half of Libya is controlled by a rebel government, and so aid was limited. These floods may become much more common in the future due to climate change, and they have been exacerbated by human activity.

Read more from NYT, NYT, CNN, and CNN.

By Theo Fetter-Degges - Volume 1 - November Edition

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Photo by Knelis (Niels Meijer Fotografie)

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Unknown Individual Returned Stolen Van Gogh Painting 

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Unknown Individual Returned Stolen Van Gogh Painting 

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On March 30th, 2020, a painting by Van Gogh titled “The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring” made in 1884 was stolen. This robbery occurred at the Singer Laren Museum in the Netherlands, during the beginning of the pandemic.

Since then, the painting has gone missing for three years, with the two perpetrators in jail, its recovery was unlikely at best. Peter Roy K and a man nicknamed “Nils M” are believed to have conspired to steal the painting.

Arthur Brand is an art detective who aided in the recovery of the long lost painting, he has a history of success when locating missing artworks.

In Amsterdam during 2023, the painting was finally returned. The police, Brand, and the current ‘owner’ of the painting arranged a meeting.

Brand describes how he heard a knock on his apartment door in the evening. An anonymous carrier dropped off the painting hidden in a discarded IKEA bag and ran away before his identity could be revealed.

Brand claims that the painting was only circulated throughout the criminal underground. It is estimated to be worth $3.5 million to $6.5 million. However, it was common knowledge that the Van Gogh was stolen, which made criminals reluctant to purchase or fence the artwork, due to the risk involved.

Though the painting is damaged, it will soon be on display for the public in the Netherlands at the Groninger Museum.

Information from: ARTnews

By Sonia Erikson - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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Washington Spirit Welcomes Jonatan Giraldez As Coach 

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Washington Spirit Welcomes Jonatan Giraldez As Coach 

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On January 9th, the DC Women's Soccer team Washington Spirit welcomed their new coach Jonatan Giraldez Costas. This comes after a disappointing previous season, where the Spirit failed to qualify for the playoff portion of the previous season, and subsequently manager Mark Parsons left the club.

Many fans are very excited, since Jonatan Giraldez was previously the manager of Spanish women's team Barcelona Feminin, who won the UEFA Women's Champions League the previous year as well as the Copa Catalunya Femenina.

“We conducted an extensive global, data-driven search and found that Jona is the best choice to lead our players. His commitment to excellence and high-performance is second to none and the results speak for themselves including consecutive La Liga and Supercopa titles and multiple top coach honors,” said Owner Michele Kang. “We are grateful for his decision to join us. He will help take the Spirit to the next level for both players and fans.”

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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Step 1: Gather 1 lb of elbow macaroni, two 12 oz cans of evaporated milk, 1 1/2 cups of grated cheddar cheese, one 1 cup of frozen peas, kosher salt, and ground black pepper.

Step 2: Place pasta and 3 cups of water in a large pot. Season with salt. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring often, until water is absorbed, 5 to 6 minutes. Add evaporated milk, bring to a boil.

Step 3: Add cheese and reduce temperature to low. Cook, stirring, until cheese is melted and sauce is thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add peas and cook until warmed through, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Recipe adapted from Country Living

By Sedona Powell - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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Junior Varsity Soccer Wins PCSAA Championship

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Junior Varsity Soccer Wins PCSAA Championship

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The Junior Varsity Soccer team won the Public Charter School Athletic Association (PCSAA) Conference Championships.

“...the team is a very strong community that is friendly and open…” said number forty, Junior Mateo Post-Chiquillo.

“Come to our games, come show support. It’s not always about Varsity you know,” expressed Brian Garcia, head coach of the JV Soccer team.  “It would be great to have you all come watch us play. Coach Brian said that watching the growth on the team and winning the PCSAA Conference Championships were the main highlights of the season.

By Ana Inskeep & Abe Rodberg - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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Varsity Boys Soccer Wins PCSAA Championship And Reaches Quarterfinals In State’s Tournament

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Varsity Boys Soccer Wins PCSAA Championship And Reaches Quarterfinals In State’s Tournament

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The Varsity Boys Soccer team won the Public Charter School Athletic Association (PCSAA) Conference Championship, and reached Quarterfinals in the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) Tournament. They lost to St John’s, 5-2.

Rodolfo Castropoland expresses great thanks to Ms. Arlisa, Dan Herring, Yusuf, Mr. Camacho, Mr. Paul Monoquin, Mr. Binsner, and Mr. Jorge  for their contribution to the team. “I think winning is always beautiful and I feel supported,” he

said.

Number four, Senior Hoyt King said, “Thank you for all the support and the work behind the scenes to make this season happen."

By Ana Inskeep & Abe Rodberg - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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Varsity Girls Soccer Wins Second PCSAA Championship And Reaches Quarterfinals In State’s Tournament

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Varsity Girls Soccer Wins Second PCSAA Championship And Reaches Quarterfinals In State’s Tournament

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The Varsity Girls Soccer team won the Public Charter School Athletic Association (PCSAA) Conference Championships for the second time, and reached the Quarterfinals in the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) Tournament. The team lost to School Without Walls, 3-1.

“You know Girls Soccer, we’ve spent a lot of time building the program,” said Jose Reyes, head coach of the Varsity Girls Soccer team.“If they want to play in  college level, we are setting the resources available so that they can start that journey.”

By Ana Inskeep & Abe Rodberg - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter Edition

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Unmanned Dragonfly Mission to Saturn's Moon Titan Delayed Until 2028

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Unmanned Dragonfly Mission to Saturn's Moon Titan Delayed Until 2028

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NASA has postponed the launch date for the Dragonfly mission to 2028, with the reason being an uncertainty with the budget. Titan is an Earth-like moon with oceans composed primarily of liquid methane. This mission would lead humans to fly over the sands of Titan in a car-sized drone to investigate the possibility of life there.

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 2 - Winter 2023 Edition

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President Biden Issues Order to Create Safeguards for AI

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President Biden Issues Order to Create Safeguards for AI

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On October 30th, President Biden signed an executive order that AI companies such as OpenAI (the creator of ChatGPT) report to the government on how the technologies they make can “aid countries or terrorists to make weapons of mass destruction.”

These safeguards would allow companies and the world to “To realize the promise of AI,” Biden said in a statement. In the past, many AI companies disliked the idea. But now it is gaining traction as companies like Meta, OpenAI, and Microsoft, have shown support for these safeguards.

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 2 - Winter 2023 Edition

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Willis Gibson Becomes The First Person To Defeat Tetris At 13! 

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Willis Gibson Becomes The First Person To Defeat Tetris At 13! 

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Willis Gibson, a 13-year-old boy from Oklahoma, became the first person to beat Tetris on December 21st, 2023.

In 1989, Tetris was released by Alexey Pajitnov and has quickly amassed many fans. However, since its creation, no one has been able to beat the game until Gibson.

A new top score of 999999 accomplished by Gibson, also known as ‘Blue Scuti’, can be seen in a video uploaded on his channel. Once he beat the game, he said, “I can’t feel my fingers.”

Though Tetris technically is an unbeatable game, the programmers never believed that someone would be able to surpass Level 157. Thus the game crashes when this occurs. Tetris players consider being able to exceed this level to be beating the game.

On January 5th, 2024, Gibson met creator Alexey Pajitnov and the company’s founder Henk Rogers through a Zoom meeting with NBC News. The gamer was surprised and overjoyed to meet them, he said, “This is so cool, I never thought I would be able to talk to you guys.”

Gibson also competed in the 2023 Classic Tetris World Championship in October, he came in third amongst all of the contestants.

Before Gibson, gamers have hacked into Tetris and ‘beat’ the video game. However, Gibson is the first person to  beat the game without using any illegal software to increase his score. An impressive feat for anyone, let alone a 13-year-old.

Information from: The New York Times

By Sonia Erikson - Volume 3 - Mid-Winter 2024 Edition

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DCI Hosts Two Successful Robotics Tournaments 

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DCI Hosts Two Successful Robotics Tournaments 

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DCI hosted two robotics tournaments, on December 2nd and 3rd respectively. These tournaments were part of the FTC robotics organization, available to both middle and high schoolers.

Many DCI students and parents helped on Friday, some of them staying until 11:00 to help set up. Many also volunteered to fill several roles on Saturday and Sunday.

49 teams across DC, Maryland and Virginia competed over the weekend. DCI has FTC teams, but they did not compete.

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 2 - Winter 2023 Edition

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The Video Game club is where middle and high school students gather to play video games on Mondays and Thursdays after school.

Carlos Pineda explains how he feels students join to find a community that enjoys playing the same games they do at home.

The club uses a Nintendo Switch console supplied by Ms. J and are usually found playing Super Smash Bros, and occasionally enjoy some Mario Kart as well.

By Ana Inskeep - Volume 2 - Winter 2023 Edition

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Lionel Messi Wins Historic 8th Ballon D'or

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Lionel Messi Wins Historic 8th Ballon D'or

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Lionel Messi won his 8th Ballon D’Or on October 30th. Last December, he led Argentina to their first World Cup title since 1986.

This 8th Ballon D’Or secures his position as the player with the most Ballon D’Or trophies, with the other closest player being Cristiano Ronaldo.

He beat out Erling Haaland, who had an incredible season with Manchester City in the English Premier League, breaking several goalscoring records and winning three trophies (The Premier League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League).

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 2 - Winter 2023 Edition

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Orlando Museum of Art's Former Director Defends Himself Against Forgery Accusations 

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Orlando Museum of Art's Former Director Defends Himself Against Forgery Accusations 

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Aaron De Groft was the former executive director of the Orlando Museum of Art. However, he was fired because of fake Jean-Michel Basquiat artworks appearing in an exhibition in 2022. The forgeries were created by the Los Angeles auctioneer Michael Barzman.

The exhibition was called,  “Heroes & Monsters: Jean-Michel Basquiat” and opened in 2022 but was soon closed in June because of an FBI raid.

During August of 2022, the museum filed a breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and conspiracy lawsuit against De Groft and the owners of the fake paintings who claimed them to be Basquiats.

De Groft maintains that the previous board chairwoman, Cynthia Brumback, and the museum’s legal team had approved of the exhibition prior to its showing.

He believes that he was fired to draw negative publicity away from the museum. Thus, the former executive director is seeking re-compensation. He wants $50,000 for wrongful termination, defamation and breach of contract.

In November of 2023, it was revealed that the defendants and the museum were arranging a settlement that would prevent the case from escalating to a jury trial. Hopefully putting an end to the stressful situation.

By Sonia Erikson - Volume 2 - Winter 2023 Edition

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Texas Rangers Win First World Series Title In Franchise History 

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Texas Rangers Win First World Series Title In Franchise History 

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The Texas Rangers won the World Series after beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 in the 5th game, with the series ending 4-1 on Wednesday, November 1st.

This was the first World Series they won in their 63 season history. They also had an 11 game winning streak away from home this postseason, which is the longest road winning streak in postseason history.

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 2 - Winter 2023 Edition

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Varsity Girls Volleyball Wins PCSAA Championships And Advanced To Semifinals In State's

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Varsity Girls Volleyball Wins PCSAA Championships And Advanced To Semifinals In State's

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The Varsity Girls Volleyball team won the Public Charter SChool Athletic Association (PCSAA) Conference Championships for the sixth time in a row. After winning, they advanced to the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) Tournament. But, the Dragons were defeated by Jackson Reed in the semifinals of the tournament.

Number Nine, Junior Egypt McDaniel said, “For as many championships as we’ve won, as hard as we worked, I feel like we do deserve more recognition than we get.”

Number Thirteen, Sophomore Winnie Centofanti said, “All I gotta say is we’ve been here, we are here, and we’re gonna be here.”

By Ana Inskeep - Volume 2 - Winter 2023 Edition

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The DCI Theatre program is practicing for their upcoming play! This new play is about Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory. The same plot, but different execution.

With casting finished, actors have begun memorizing lines, learning songs, practicing choreography, and rehearsing scenes.

Cast List For The Two Performances:

Charlie -  Cormac Whittington(29’) & Elise Stratton Treadway(28’)

Wonka/Candyman - Adi Brock(28’)  & Sofia Warfield(28’)

Grandpa Joe -  Camille Van Nixon( 30’) & Addie Worsley(29’)

Veruca - Lucie Swift-Morgan(29’) & Astrid Lundry(30’)

Mr. Salt -  Zoe Dear(30’)

Violet -  Delina Hadish(30’) & Meredith Vucci(29’)

Mrs. Beauregarde - Karin Doyle(28’)

Mike - Eleanor Hulbert(28’) & Lillian Davis(30’)

Mrs. TeeVee - Naia Mendenhall-Miller(30’)

Augustus - Charlotte Godfrey(30’) & Mandolyn Larsen Brown(29’)

Mrs.Gloop - Luana Thibault Carreras(30’)

Mrs. Bucket - Imani Turner(30’)& Javi Toha(30’)

Mr. Bucket - Jaylen Warfield(29’)& Gabe Holm(30’)

Grandma Josephine + Act 2 Ensemble - Addie Butler(30’)

Grandpa George + Act 2 Ensemble - Violet Davis(30’)

Grandma Georgina + Act 2 Ensemble - Penelope Ritter(30’)

James + Act 2 Ensemble - Aris Ware(30’)

Matilda + Act 2 Ensemble - Mailys Rengifo Chaverra(29’)

Stay tuned for more details on the upcoming play!

By Rokheya Doucoure - Volume 2 - Winter 2023 Edition

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Varsity Girls Tennis Team Loses Fall Season Matches

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Varsity Girls Tennis Team Loses Fall Season Matches

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The Varsity Girls Tennis Team has lost all its games so far as of the fall season.

Varsity Boys Tennis will start up in the spring, and James Chapman, the coach for all Varsity Tennis Teams, expresses his welcome to students of any skill level. “So even if you're not really sure if you like tennis—if you're good at it—I’d say just come and try out…”

Coach Chapman, head coach of the team, hopes that anyone who's interested will consider trying out whether for the spring season, or the following year.

“We’ve made a lot of progress this year and a lot of the players improved greatly.”

By Ana Inskeep - Volume 2 - Winter 2023 Edition

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Inter Miami Loses To Houston Dynamo In US Open Cup Final 

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Inter Miami Loses To Houston Dynamo In US Open Cup Final 

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Inter Miami, the MLS team that was blessed from the heavens by one of the world’s premier soccer stars, Lionel Messi. Inter Miami was unbeatable since Messi made his debut on July 21st of 2023,  but they have since been defeated by Houston Dynamo on September 27th. The Dynamos are coached by Ben Olsen, who was a DC United head coach and player for many years while also having two kids attending DCI.

This 2-1 defeat was punctuated by Messi’s absence that night. The Argentine international and FIFA World Cup winner reports that he was absent that night because of a hamstring injury.

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 1 - November Edition

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On September 10th, Coco Gauff beat Aryna Sabalenka in three sets and became the first American teenager to win the US Open, since Serena Williams in 1999. This was her second Grand Slam final, her first being the French Open earlier this year, which she lost. She also won the Washington Open, earlier this year, which took place in a stadium near DCI.

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 1 - November Edition

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Varsity Boys Cross Country Takes Takes The Lead 

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Varsity Boys Cross Country Takes Takes The Lead 

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The DCI Varsity Boys Cross Country Team was victorious in their last meet on September 19th, claiming 1st place against the 11 other schools that showed up. The meet took place at Kenilworth Recreation Center.

10th grade CJ Dunlop remarks in an interview, “We could've run faster, but the competition wasn’t great.”

Cross Country Coach Gilliam says, “We don’t have enough girls for a whole girls team. We need more girls to come join the team and very soon [as] the season ends in the middle of November”

By Ana Inskeep & Abe Rodberg - Volume 1 - November Edition

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The DCI Acting and Improv club, run by Mr. Wilkinson,  meets every Thursday to play improv games and to create and remix scenes.

In previous quarters, students have remixed various stories; such as, Rumpelstiltskin, Rapunzel and Edgar Allen Poe.

On the topic of why students join this club, Mr. Wilkinson said, “I would say it’s great to play with your imagination and to take up space. Also, I think in terms of learning how to be imaginative and creative with others, it’s really fun.”

By Anya Lilly - Volume 2 - Winter 2023 Edition

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After 148 days, the WGA Writers’ Strike came to an end on September 26, 2023, with the studios conceding to the writers’ demands. The WGA was originally ridiculed for their “unrealistic” demands; however, the strike has led to improved working conditions for 12,000 members and restrictions on the use of generative AI.

By Sonia Erikson - Volume 1 - November Edition

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Millionaire Has Sold his Company and is Now Providing Homes for the Homeless

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Millionaire Has Sold his Company and is Now Providing Homes for the Homeless

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In New Brunswick, Canada, businessman Marcel LeBrun is creating a gated community for the homeless.

LeBrun has sold his company Radian6 and is using 4 million dollars of the profit for his latest project. He is currently creating homes for the homeless. His goal is to build a gated community called 12 neighbours made up of 99 houses.

He plans to provide people experiencing homelessness with jobs on site to re-introduce them into the workforce.

Some critics argue that it will be more difficult for people experiencing homelessness to return to society if they are all segregated together. These critics believe that LeBrun’s plan will ultimately cause more harm than help to those experiencing homelessness.

Nonetheless, LeBrun is continuing with his work. He explains how there will be security around the clock to prevent people with bad intentions from entering the community. Thus, the security of those living in the community will be guaranteed.

To conclude, he anticipates helping people out of homelessness by constructing a gated community for them. The community will offer them jobs and will teach them new trades that they wish to pursue.

By Sonia Erikson - Volume 2 - Winter 2023 Edition

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Varsity Tennis Team Loses First Two Matches

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Varsity Tennis Team Loses First Two Matches

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The DCI Varsity Girls Tennis Team participated in their first match of the season against Georgetown Visitation on September 12. Then again against Maret on September 19.

Coach Chapman has been coaching DCI Varsity Tennis for two years, last year a co-ed team, and this year the first Varsity Girls Tennis Team. He states in an interview that the matches were tough as a new team with many players inexperienced in playing matches. The schools they were up against were private, around for a long time, and often had personal courts on campus. Though they're up against a lot, Coach Chapman believes the goal is to gain experience and learn from these losses.

He hopes to see a more competitive team in the future with 9th and 10th graders returning, and to train more players to develop a larger team.

By Ana Inskeep & Abe Rodberg - Volume 1 - November Edition

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Elon Musk formed Space Exploration Technology Corp. otherwise known as SpaceX in 2001, the company is currently working towards the colonization of Mars.

The planet Mars is one of the most habitable planets near the Earth.

Musk has made various predictions involving when the rocketship will land, ranging from 2025 to 2029.

He says that the first people to arrive on Mars will be a crew of 12 astronauts, they will make sure that the planet can support life before anyone else lands on Mars.  He aims to send a million people to Mars, who will eventually form a self-sufficient colony that no longer relies on Earth’s resources.

By Sonia Erikson - Volume 1 - November Edition

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ROBOTICS Preparing For Upcoming Competitions

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ROBOTICS Preparing For Upcoming Competitions

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“DCI Robotics mission is to build a diverse community of excellence in STEM,” states Shane Donovan, the DCI Robotics advisor. Mr. Donovan has been coaching robotics at DCI since 2015. In an interview with The Dragon Post, Mr. Donovan talks about the ongoing season and preparations for the upcoming design competition released earlier last September.

Currently the season has kicked off for the first Tech challenge, typically for middle schoolers. Each year there is a new challenge for students to go head to head against other schools. They design, build and test their robots before bringing them to competitions. This year, the challenge is called Center Stage, where robots must pick up small hexagonal objects and place them within certain areas.

Mr. Donovan states that Robotics is a great way to “build really really fundamental life skills in teamwork, collaboration, project management, business…” He remarks on its appeal to people who enjoy mechanical engineering and writing computer code.

10th grader Meren Hoffpauir, DCI’s Robotics Business Team Captain, adds that, “To students who might be interested in [the] Robotics Team, it’s actually quite chill. We have a lot of different projects that we are working on, so there is always something for everyone…”

Though the middle school competitive team is filled, interested high schoolers may stop by room GD03 on Thursdays after school.

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 1 - November Edition

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The High School Student Government Association, or SGA, recently began meeting again after summer break. The new school year brought a new administration, led by President Jordan Yancey (12th grade) and Vice President Camille Larsen-Humphreys (12th grade). In addition, Student Advisory Committee Chair Theo Fetter-Degges (11th grade), Social Committee Co-Chair Jasmine Easter-Darden (12th grade), Communications Chair Caedmon Peterson (12th grade), and Community Involvement Committee Chair Max Rosenwasser (11th grade), all took on their roles in earnest. Although there are elected officers in SGA, it’s open to all high schoolers, and members can show up as much as they want without being elected. If you’re a high schooler and you’re interested in SGA, you can come to a meeting, held weekly on Mondays in the Inner Library. No registration or election is required to attend and we would love to have you!

By Theo - Volume 1 - November Edition

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DCI has a grocery store in the building!  “DCI Grab and GO Market “ (Name and Logo designed by contest winner; Nedhi Etana-class of 2026) opened on Friday October 13th. The market will provide items such as: fresh produce, canned chili,  mac and cheese,  granola bars, bottled water, cereal, detergent, health and wellness products etc.  Deliveries are bi-weekly and groceries will vary.  The Market will be run by Staff members: Ms. Coleman, Ms. Escobar & Ms. Gray,  in addition to  student volunteers (parents are welcome to volunteer as well).  Students volunteers can earn up to  3 community service hours a week, with a maximum of 24 hrs for an entire SY. Students must sign up using the google form that has been emailed to our high schools. Families, students, staff and members of the community are welcome to shop at the market.

Market Hours

Tuesdays- 3:30-5:00

Fridays- 1:30-3:00

All items  provided by the Capital Area Food Bank.

By Ms. Coleman - Volume 1 - November Edition

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I am a 16 year old girl who is struggling to have a social life.  Since I was a little girl, I have had trouble connecting with kids my own age.  I have done better with kids older or younger than me.  A lot of times I relate better with teachers than with students.  The few friends I had before COVID -19 have vanished into thin air…. When school started, I was part of a new group of “friends” but it didn't last long.  The groups in my school are very tight.  It’s almost impossible to break into an already-existing friend group.  While I don't mind being alone, I know I’m missing out.  It doesn't help that I don't know how to approach other teenagers and that I suffer from anxiety which makes me doubt myself when I try.

Sincerely,

FRIENDLESS GIRL

DEAR FRIENDLESS GIRL: This may be something you can talk about with a trusted teacher or your School Counselor.  Because the cliques at your school are difficult to break into, ask what kind of special interest clubs exist on your campus.  Is drama offered?  Is there a sport you might be interested in that would allow you to mix with others your age?

You don’t have to be a star athlete or a great actress in order to enjoy activities such as these.  The goal is to expose yourself to others who have a similar interest ...AND remember, high school may seem like it lasts forever, BUT IT DOESN’T.  Once you have graduated, you will have the chance to make many more acquaintances, friends and social contacts on a more even playing field.

By Ms. Coleman - Volume 1 - November Edition

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Austen MacMillian, a 12-year-old boy, loves the popular series Stranger Things, from which he learned CPR. In Florida, in the family’s pool, Austen was with Jason Piquette, his behavioral therapist, they were swimming in the pool. Piquette was showing Austen how long he could hold his breath underwater. However, after 5 minutes, Piquette was still underwater and no longer moving.

Austen realized the severity of the situation and pulled Piquette out of the water. He ran to the driveway to yell for help, before returning to Piquette. He then performed CPR, he had never done it before but he imitated what he saw on Stranger Things. By the time Austen’s father came home, Piquette was breathing, Austen’s father called 911. Thanks to Austen, Piquette survived the traumatic ordeal. The MacMillians are proud of their son’s accomplishment and encourage others to take CPR classes.

By Sonia Erikson - Volume 1 - November Edition

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DUMBLEDORE Actor Michael Gambon Dies At 82 

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DUMBLEDORE Actor Michael Gambon Dies At 82 

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Michael Gambon was a prominent film and theater actor. He is most well known for playing Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, starring in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban following the death of Richard Harris in 2002, and acted for the role in every movie after that. He died aged 82 in Witham, England, from pneumonia.

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 1 - November Edition

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New High School Musical Coming In November   

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New High School Musical Coming In November   

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The opening show will be on November 16th, they will be performing the show until November 18th. Keep your eyes peeled for further updates in future editions of The Dragon Post!

Cast List:

Jemilla - Bridget Eastman (11)

Zazzalil - Caroline Hutchins (10)

Molag - Keith Hipp (12)

SB - Adonis Ozuna-Nunez (10)

Chorn - Abby Smith (9)

Emberly - Charlotte Williams (9)

Ducker - Edlyn Becton (9)

Tiblyn - Raven Smith (9)

Shwoopsie - Poppy Oberson (9)

Keeri - Gabby Embden (9)

Grunt - Ajani Obaseki (12)

Clark/Neanderthal & Tribe Ensemble - Kris Smith (10)

Claire/Neanderthal & Tribe Ensemble - Haya Boucoum (9)

Nicolai/Neanderthal & Tribe

Ensemble - Dandelion Voltaire (10)

By Abe Rodberg - Volume 1 - November Edition

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- Theo Fetter-Degges [11th Grade]

- Sedona Powell [10th Grade]

- Ana Inskeep [9th Grade]

- Sonia Erikson [9th Grade]

- Rokheya Doucoure [9th Grade]

- Abe Rodberg [8th Grade]

- Anya Lilly [8th Grade]

- Adrienne Underwood [Staff]

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We want to create a newspaper that is interesting to read for students and staff.

This newspaper will cover everything that a DCI student should know about what is currently happening in the school. We hope to inform the DC about current events in the world of sports, stem, space, theater, and art. We also interview DCI teachers about popular clubs and why students enjoy these clubs.

To conclude, the purpose of this newspaper is to notify DCI students of  events occurring within and outside of the  school.

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The Dragon Post is a newspaper primarily about DCI. We write about current school events, school sports, clubs, tech, science, theater, art, major events, and the wider world.

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Also known as Wacky Cake, this cake was invented during the Great Depression. During that era, food was either extremely expensive or hard to come by. It was very difficult to make baked goods such as cake. So, people adapted and created new recipes for pastries. Cake recipes were modified to compensate for the loss of ingredients, and the Depression Cake was born. Despite the glum name, the cake is delicious.

Cake Ingredients:

1 ½ cups (187 grams) all-purpose flour

1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar

¼ cup (29.5 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon white vinegar

⅓ cup vegetable oil

1 cup (237 grams) water

Frosting Ingredients:

1 cup (237 grams) water

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup (125 grams) confectioners’ sugar

3 tablespoons whole milk, or heavy cream

Recipe adapted from I Am Baker

By Sedona Powell - Volume 2 - Winter 2023 Edition