President and First Lady respond to government class letters

Haley Vaughn, sports editor
May 17, 2013
Filed under Features, Student Life, Top Stories

Annually, government classes learn about federal bureaucracies with special focus on the Food and Drug Administration through a documentary called “Food Inc.” This year Lauren Ashley Villa’s honors government class wrote to the White House on food law corruption and received a class response... Read more »

Delta Company to benefit homeless with clothing drive

Haley Vaughn, sports editor
May 13, 2013
Filed under News, Student Life

JROTC’s Delta Company is running a clothing drive for the local Reston homeless shelter May 16. The company is asking for students to donate gently used clothing to benefit Fairfax County’s 1500 homeless people. “We will donate the clothes we collect to the Reston shelter next to the Reston... Read more »

South Lakes goes orange for Smitty Strong

Haley Vaughn, sports editor
April 25, 2013
Filed under News, Student Life, Top Stories

Students and teachers are dying their hair bright orange in response to the senior class raising the most money for football coach Daniel Smith’s cancer treatment. Seniors stand in first place after Thurs. lunches with juniors, sophomores, and freshmen trailing in class order. “The seniors... Read more »

Boys lacrosse hosted South Lakes Invitational over spring break

Haley Vaughn, sports editor
April 3, 2013
Filed under Sports, Top Stories

 Over spring break boys lacrosse hosted the first annual South Lakes Invitational. The invite included several local Northern Region teams. They kicked off the weekend facing Mount Vernon Mar. 21 with a 7-6 victory. The team continued on to defeat rival Herndon with a 9-1 shutout Mar. 22. “I... Read more »

Service hours readily available for students online

Haley Vaughn, sports editor
March 21, 2013
Filed under News, Student Life

Service opportunities are now more readily available online for students in need of community service hours. In accordance with the International Baccalaureate Diploma program, students are expected to complete a minimum of 150 volunteer CAS hours. Students are required to complete 50 hours in the... Read more »

District 12 choral assessments hosted at South Lakes

Haley Vaughn and Haley Vaughn
March 8, 2013
Filed under News

The choir department is hosting the annual District 12 two day assessment throughout the school this weekend. Over 1000 students from the participating 36 schools in District 12 will be participating in the assessment. Four university choral conductors and music professors will be the judges for these... Read more »

District 12 choral assessments hosted at South Lakes

Haley Vaughn and Haley Vaughn
March 8, 2013
Filed under News

The choir department is hosting the annual District 12 two day assessment throughout the school this weekend. Over 1000 students from the participating 36 schools in District 12 will be participating in the assessment. Four university choral conductors and music professors will be the judges for these... Read more »

Nick Eilerson; Fairfax Times

Haley Vaughn, sports editor
February 26, 2013
Filed under Uncategorized

Fairfax County Times Sports Desk writer Nick Eilerson began his journalism career his freshman year of high school. “I had always been a good writer and an avid reader of the sports page, so I figured putting the two together in a classroom setting would be pretty fun,” Eilerson said. After... Read more »

Track athletes awarded All State

Haley Vaughn, sports editor
February 25, 2013
Filed under Sports

Twenty-five track and field athletes traveled to Hampton for the Virginia AAA State Indoor Track Meet at Boo Williams Sportplex Feb. 22-23. Many of those athletes exceeded their seeds to place and score for the team. Placing top eight in any event at the state meet qualifies an athlete to have... Read more »

Winter sports contend for district titles

Haley Vaughn, sports editor
February 14, 2013
Filed under Sports, Top Stories

Winter sports regular season play is coming to an end and many teams are anticipating postseason success. The boys’ varsity indoor track and field team took home a first place trophy from the Ed Bowie Invitational Dec. 15. The team placed third the year before. “The returning athletes have... Read more »

Although not fully analyzed, experts believe organic foods provide healthier options

Haley Vaughn, sports editor
December 22, 2012
Filed under Features

Organic farming and the production of organic products is a relatively new practice which is receiving ambiguous reactions from consumers. Not only are the claimed health benefits from consuming organic foods not yet proven, but the price of an organic diet is more expensive than that of a regular one. The... Read more »

Need a 2013 resolution? How about running a 5K

Haley Vaughn, sports editor
December 22, 2012
Filed under Features, Uncategorized

After the food-filled holiday season, many people make New Year’s resolutions to get in shape, eat healthier, and manage their time better. Many will also start running 5K races. Cross country and track and field runners are used to the training of a 5K race, but for the “regular” or the... Read more »

QRU? Career specialist Karen Burke

Haley Vaughn, sports editor
September 12, 2012
Filed under QRUs, Top Stories, Uncategorized

Karen Burke has been the career center specialist at South Lakes for the last four years. She advises students on post-secondary school options and offers guidance to all students about career options as well. Why should students visit the career center? As the career center specialist, I am... Read more »

Retzer named principal of SLHS

Haley Vaughn, online sports editor
June 21, 2012
Filed under News, Top Stories

Kim Retzer, former assistant principal and South Lakes High School graduate, was introduced as the new principal of South Lakes High School today at 11:30 a.m. to faculty, staff, and community members. Dr. Fabio Zuluaga, assistant superintendent for Cluster VIII, presented Retzer after listing key... Read more »

Varsity girls win home track invitational; boys place fourth

Haley Vaughn, Weekly Wall editor
May 9, 2012
Filed under Sports

The Nike Spring Invitational, hosted by South Lakes since 2009, returned May 5 for another meet full of close competition. Many athletes competed well on the home track with Northern Region qualifying standards. Team scoring was close with the girls team winning the meet with 73 points, beating Lake... Read more »

Commentary: save prom for senior year

Haley Vaughn, Weekly Wall editor
April 19, 2012
Filed under Opinion

Limousines, high heels, and corsages: all glamorous attributes expected to be a part of the magic night that pop culture has defined as the biggest event in the high school experience. The popularity of prom in today’s culture has metamorphosed the celebration into a posh merriment demanding both... Read more »

Real life ‘Glee’ fights Alzheimers Disease at Sing Strong

Haley Vaughn, Weekly Wall editor
April 13, 2012
Filed under Entertainment, Student Life

The music department has hosted Sing Strong since March 2009, and this year came back for another weekend of performances. The sold-out weekend of March 24-27 presented five concerts along with over a dozen master-classes featuring solely the human voice. "Styles include pop, jazz, rock, barbershop,... Read more »

Class of 2013 sponsors annual Mr. Seahawk competition

Haley Vaughn, Weekly Wall editor
March 19, 2012
Filed under Entertainment, Student Life

Many oppose beauty pageants for their nature of competition. These competitions have created controversy for awarding prizes to those with “good looks,” instead of recognizing people for their best qualities. However, at South Lakes, this idea is transformed into an event to raise money for the... Read more »

QRU? Sophomore Mohamed Ahmed

Haley Vaughn, Weekly Wall editor
February 29, 2012
Filed under Seahawk Stories, Top Stories

Sophomore Mohamed Ahmed celebrates his fourth birthday on February 29 because he born on a leap year. What is the most common question you get on your birthday? People ask me if I am four years old or if I am sixteen. I am sixteen years old, but I have only had four birthdays. How do you feel... Read more »

Project Four team asseses stream

Haley Vaughn, Weekly Wall Editor
February 10, 2012
Filed under Student Life

IB Biology and IB Chemistry students attended a Group Four project field trip on Nov. 9, 2011 where they collaborated and collected data from twenty reaches by the stream behind South Lakes. “The trip was a success it was a beautiful day so the students could get accurate samples for all of their... Read more »

Girls varsity lacrosse prepares for first season under Linden

Haley Vaughn, Weekly Wall editor
February 2, 2012
Filed under Sports

Lindsey Linden, who previously coached Thomas Jefferson’s lacrosse team, is now the head coach of girls varsity lacrosse, replacing coach Martin Chamberlain. Varsity girls finished with a 1-9 record season in 2011. Linden plans to put together a more experienced team this year. “The requirements... Read more »

SOPA and PIPA create online controversy

Haley Vaughn, Weekly Wall editor
February 2, 2012
Filed under News

The companion bills SOPA and PIPA, introduced to Congress in 2011 recently created much online controversy. This legislation is designed to crack down on the pirated products in America by restricting internet sites, particularly those originating outside the United States, from selling or distributing... Read more »

Annual Broadway Night production returns

Haley Vaughn, Weekly Wall editor
January 19, 2012
Filed under News, Student Life

South Lakes choral department will put on their annual cabaret show this Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. in the Little Theater. “Most schools do something like this but they don’t have a specific theme,” said senior Alex Humphries. “It’s exciting to have the theme of Growing Up on Broadway... Read more »

Dance team to compete at Disney World

Haley Vaughn, Weekly Wall editor
December 16, 2011
Filed under Sports, Student Life

Dance Team is scheduled to compete at Nationals Feb. 3 in Orlando at Disney World. "This year our dance team is getting good opportunities and we do a lot more competitions,” said junior co-captain Jacqueline Angel. The team attended dance camp over the summer where they practiced with other... Read more »

Indoor track and field competes in Polar Bear Meet

Haley Vaughn, staff writer
December 6, 2011
Filed under Sports

The varsity indoor track and field team traveled to Robinson Secondary School Dec. 4 for their meet of the season. Despite the cold weather, several athletes qualified for regional and state competitions. Junior Rashaan Jones competed in high jump and won the meet with a 6’6.25” jump. The jump... Read more »

QRU? Senior Sumiya Yates

Haley Vaughn, staff writer
December 5, 2011
Filed under Sports

For senior Sumiya Yates, track and field has broadened her college options. Do you have a daily after school commitment? After school I go to track practice to work on my shot put and discus, which are called “throws” in track and field. I’ve been throwing since outdoor track sophomore year,... Read more »

Girls cross country place sixth in Liberty District, boys place third and advance to Regionals

Haley Vaughn, staff writer
November 2, 2011
Filed under Sports, Top Stories

The cross country team ended their season with a first place victory in the Liberty District for the boys team, and one of the most improved seasons for the girls. Practices started early this August with many athletes anticipating the new season. On October 27, the teams traveled to Burke... Read more »

Spirit week closes with homecoming parade

Haley Vaughn, staff writer
October 23, 2011
Filed under Student Life, Top Stories

Topping off the final spirit week competitions among each class was the annual South Lakes Homecoming Parade held on Friday, October 21. A caravan of convertibles, dancers, cheerleaders, princes, princesses, and class floats traveled through Reston. Each class was assigned a specific superhero by... Read more »

Volleyball sweeps Marshall during Dig Pink night

Haley Vaughn, staff writer
October 17, 2011
Filed under Sports

On October 11, girls volleyball hosted a Dig Pink match against the Marshall Statesmen in order to raise awareness for breast cancer. Dig Pink is a nationwide event that can be organized through school volleyball coaches and teams to benefit breast cancer research.  The proceeds of each event go... Read more »

Former counselor returns to take over as director of student services

Haley Vaughn, contributing writer
October 5, 2011
Filed under Seahawk Stories

This year, South Lakes welcomes a familiar face as the new director of student services, former counselor Davina Johnson. “I’m glad to be back home,” said Johnson. Johnson grew up as an army dependent, commonly known as an army brat, causing her to move around the country as a child. Johnson... Read more »