The County Chronicle

The online newspaper for Loudoun County High School
Movie Recommendations
June 12, 2025
One of Brooke Keller’s AP Portfolio artworks portrays a surreal scene with a fish and a human head. The artwork showcases how Keller combines a realistic style with fantastical elements.
Artist of the Issue
June 12, 2025
4 books to read over the summer
June 5, 2025
Sophomore Will Schweiker and guitar teacher Matthew Trkula pose outside of the Tally-ho on the night of the battle of the bands. Schweiker was a winner of the event as a member of the band Antigravity.
County band Antigravity wins Tally-ho sponsored battle of the bands
April 5, 2025
Looking back at David Bowie’s “Young Americans” album 50 years later
March 26, 2025
Letter to the editor
June 12, 2025
Blue Origin: an unnecessary expedition
June 12, 2025
ICE should not be allowed in schools
June 12, 2025
Teacher music policy reveals that Virginia arbitrarily removes students’ ability to learn
April 4, 2025
County embraces inequitable technology punctuated by Deepseek AI
March 25, 2025
Pierson Lee sits on top of the school sign for a picture announcing him as commencement speaker for social media. Lee plans to study biophysics at Duke University in the fall. Photo courtesy of @lchs1954
Pierson Lee named 2025 Commencement Speaker
June 12, 2025
The County Chronicle nominees senior William Kluttz, sophomore Scarlett Ashford, junior Karan Singh and senior Berek Harrison pose during the first annual Loudoun Now Excellence in Journalism awards night, held at Loudoun County High School. Ashford’s podcast, during which she interviewed former superintendent Edgar Hatrick, won runner up in the podcast category. “I had little expectation going into the evening about how it would go since this is the first year that Loudoun Community Media was offering the awards,” librarian Patti Bagdasarian said. “I was impressed by the entire program, from the reception beforehand, to the emcee (News 4 Bureau Chief!), to the high level and involvement of the sponsors, but most importantly, how they created this program to honor the commitment, hard work, and excellence of our student journalist. It wasn’t lost on me that Scarlett won for an interview of Dr. Hatrick in the building where he started and spent much of his career.” Bagdasarian not only attended the event, but helped Ashford produce her podcast with the library’s recording equipment.
Loudoun Now hosts first annual ‘Excellence in Journalism Awards’
June 12, 2025
Simpson Teacher Kimberly Poole wins major Washington Post award as teacher of the year
June 12, 2025
Fine Arts field trip
June 12, 2025
DeGroat poses with her pet dog Grady. When not in school, she partakes in playing with her dog and being with family. Photo courtesy of Laura DeGroat.
Saying Goodbye
June 12, 2025
Girls and boys tennis battles through season, ending at districts
June 12, 2025
Quin Miller steps up to the plate during his game versus Broad Run on April 24. The Captains won 4-3.
Athlete of the issue
June 12, 2025
Senior Christian Dema-Narch dribbles around a defender during their game against Dominion on January 22. The Captains lost 60-81 to Dominion. Photo courtesy of @dmv.flickz
Both boys and girls basketball make regional semifinals
April 5, 2025
Juniors Ellie Smith, Emerson Gatlin, and Anna Giudice stand together holding the district championship trophy. Smith, Gatlin, and Giudice are a part of the swim team, who have broken multiple school records this year. Photo courtesy of @emerson.gatlin on Instagram
Exchange student Anna Giudice breaks several school records alongside swim team
April 5, 2025
Valerie Lindquist, Ellie O’Brien, and Hidayyah Ishaq pose together after their meet at Heritage on December 11, 2024. Lindquist placed 3rd on vault and Ellie improved on her vault.
Close-knit gymnastics team fosters supportive environment
February 17, 2025
Collin Diem performs a solo, “Words Fail,” from "Dear Evan Hansen." All of the performances by choir members raise money for the choral program for a variety of activities, such as scholarships, equipment, and other needs. Anyone who was unable to attend but still wishes to help the choral program can make donations via check, delivered or mailed to LCHS. Photo by Taylor Helfer.
LCHS Choir hosts “Heroes and Villains” cabaret
March 12, 2025
HOMECOMING 2021: “Students Make Their Mark On The World”
November 15, 2021
Homecoming Spirit Week Fun and Fashion
November 2, 2021
The 1955 football team pictured in the LCHS yearbook. Photo courtesy of Tonya Dagstani.
Looking Back: Old yearbooks provide a window to the past
February 5, 2021
Mckenna Giannos competes in the high jump as a junior during the spring track season 2019. Photo courtesy of John Klimavicz. Senior track athlete Mckenna Giannos: “Practice has definitely been different, our workouts have been changed to accommodate that COVID guidelines, which has definitely made it harder to get back into the swing of things, but being able to see and practice with my teammates again makes it all worth it.”
Practicing Through COVID
January 5, 2021
Bonnie White Keyes (then Bonnie White) poses for her 10th grade photo, which appears in the 1960 edition of the Lord Loudoun yearbook.
Perspectives: interview with Bonnie White Keyes (1958-1960)
May 27, 2024
Andrea Rakowski’s photo in the 1996 Lord Loudoun yearbook.
Perspectives: Andrea Rakowski, Class of 1996
May 14, 2024
The Harmful Stereotypes in new Netflix series Griselda Blanco
April 6, 2024
SAT vs ACT
SAT vs ACT
February 6, 2024
Read a newspaper
June 5, 2023
Spring crossword: April Fools' Edition
Spring crossword: April Fools’ Edition
April 10, 2025
Spring Crossword
April 1, 2024
Issue 2 Crossword
Issue 2 Crossword
February 6, 2024
Armes continues being involved in sports in his kids’ little league teams. Armes continues being involved in sports in his kids’ little league teams. Picture courtesy of Matthew Armes.
Flashback
March 31, 2023
Sidebar: How you can help the earth
March 31, 2023
Students dressed up in Hazmat suits make their way back from lunch. Despite the comfortability of the suits, the students are enjoying the experience, and are excited to promote school spirit. Photo by the bacteria in the walls, with thanks to https://nara.getarchive.net/media/us-marines-and-sailors-prepare-to-conduct-decontamination-4fd0f7
Spirit Week
April 1, 2025
School pool opens back up
March 31, 2023
Newly elected president dissolves student council and declares national emergency
March 28, 2023
World peace, at last: asynchronous Mondays return, the world celebrates.
April 1, 2022
Senior Taylor McCully enjoys a bowl of Captain Crunch cereal before school while showing her support for our new mascot. It has become her favorite cereal brand.
Captain Crunch announced to be new captain of LCHS
April 1, 2022

The County Chronicle

The County Chronicle

Scarlett Ashford, staff writer

Scarlett Ashford is a sophomore at Loudoun County High School, and this is her second year as a staff writer for The County Chronicle. She enjoys playing softball, has been playing piano for the past 8 years, and is 4th chair French horn for the Loudoun Symphony Youth Orchestra. She spends her free time writing, reading, listening to rock music, and watching horror/thriller movies.

All content by Scarlett Ashford

Fine Arts field trip

Scarlett Ashford, Copy Editor
June 12, 2025

Movie Recommendations

Scarlett Ashford, Copy Editor
June 12, 2025
Students dressed up in Hazmat suits make their way back from lunch. Despite the comfortability of the suits, the students are enjoying the experience, and are excited to promote school spirit. Photo by the bacteria in the walls, with thanks to https://nara.getarchive.net/media/us-marines-and-sailors-prepare-to-conduct-decontamination-4fd0f7

Spirit Week

Scarlett Ashford, Copy Editor
April 1, 2025
Kevin Grigsby and English teacher Kathryn Ives, who taught Grigsby while attending County, reunite at Grigsby’s presentation. They excitedly greeted each other before he began.

Author and alumnus Kevin Grigsby discusses his discovery of Loudoun County history

Scarlett Ashford, Copy Editor
March 5, 2025

4 books to read over the summer

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
June 5, 2025
Current school schedule hinders student mental success

Current school schedule hinders student mental success

Scarlett Ashford, Copy Editor
February 11, 2025
(Clockwise from top to bottom) Junior Josephine Seekford, senior Olivia Rowand, senior Taylor Fedor, and senior Anna Giudice. queue up to participate in the taste testing event. Flavored water is offered along with the sample dishes to cleanse the palate.

LCPS School Nutrition hosts taste testing

Scarlett Ashford, Copy Editor
January 17, 2025
Horror books are some of my favorites, and this classic definitely does not disappoint. King sets up plenty of foreshadowing which leaves on edge, eagerly waiting to see what happens next. The writing style is quite unique, and I had to read some sentences multiple times because of their structure, but the plot and characters are so elaborate you truly become engrossed in their encounters at the Overlook Hotel.

Five books to cozy up to this winter

Scarlett Ashford, Copy Editor
January 17, 2025
Students place their phones in the provided holder for the class period. According to the policy, students are not allowed to retrieve their phones until the dismissal bell rings.

Teachers provide insight on new school cell phone policy

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
November 8, 2024
Students place their phones in the provided holder for the class period. According to the policy, students are not allowed to retrieve their phones until the dismissal bell rings.

[Photo] Teachers provide insight on new school cell phone policy

October 28, 2024
Community book club connects generations

Community book club connects generations

Scarlett Ashford, Copy Editor
October 28, 2024
(From left to right) Sophomore Fallon Murphy, freshman Madelyn Homa, junior Tyler Jones, sophomore Logan Deladurantaye, freshman Sam Edwards, freshman Julen Ahedo, freshman Josh Bedrowsky, junior Octavian Ashford, freshman Micah Wollam, senior Alan Crouse, junior Andrew Wilson, junior Mike Du Plessis, sophomore Brandon Camocho, junior Rowan Mendenhall, and sophomore Tucker Boos showcasing the awards they won after orienteering nationals.

NJROTC orienteering team places at nationals

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
May 30, 2024
Left to right: Sophomore Karan Singh, senior Brianna Martinez, and Curator of Manuscripts and Archives, Laura Christiansen, look over a collection of 19th century newspapers. Martinez gasps at the sight of an ad for a person for sale.

Head librarian preserves school history

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
May 30, 2024
Seniors at County prepare for the annual senior play. Supervised by Fred Hutchinson, this is how seniors in drama strive to end the year strong.

Curtain Call: County theater throughout the ages

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
May 30, 2024
Top row from left to right: Chris Focer, 8th grader Chloe Tilghman, 6th grader Kaity Peterson, 7th grader Tien Dang, sophomore Amelia Cunnington, 6th grader Wesley Bokel, 6th grader Bella Harding, freshman Natalie Lund, freshman Bahia Omais, junior Kai Rothwell, 7th grader Greta Stultz, freshman Lily Kingsolver, Madison Nuckolls. Bottom row from left to right: 7th grader Ryan Baughman, freshman Naia Settipani, freshman Avery Bennett, 6th grader Brooklyn Sales. Winter Color Guard poses after winning the color guard championship.

Rising color guard program wins East Coast championship

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
May 30, 2024
Curtain Call: County theater throughout the ages

Curtain Call: County theater throughout the ages

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
May 30, 2024
A History of School Plays

A History of School Plays

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
May 28, 2024
Members of the choir program join together for a final encore after a night of duets and solos. Here they sing “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” from Hair while the audience listens. From left to right: sophomore Rae Creppon, freshman Justin Goodhart, sophomore Norah Lee, junior Sam Takemoto, senior Grayson Weber, senior Cy Starr, senior Jayden Reynoso, sophomore Collin Diem, senior Kevin Jennings, freshman Emma Nicholson, and senior Vanessa Carranza.

Cabaret soars and flies above and beyond

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
April 6, 2024

Savannah steadily grows in locker rooms (satire)

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
April 1, 2024

Book review: “A very large expanse of sea” helps to expand the mind

Scarlett Ashford, staff writer
February 8, 2024
Members of the Crow’s Nest Literary Magazine display last year’s VHSL awards. Left to right: freshman Hope Hathaway, senior Beck Jewell, freshman Scarlett Ashford, senior Kai Arcano, and sophomore Karan Singh. Photo courtesy of Valerie Egger.

Creative writing club the Crow’s Nest wins VHSL Savedge award

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
February 2, 2024

ASL club, expanding the program and culture

Scarlett Ashford, staff writer
February 2, 2024
St. Nikolaus takes a trip around the school

St. Nikolaus takes a trip around the school

Scarlett Ashford, staff writer
January 1, 2024
This is one of the many student artworks Luttrell enjoys keeping in her office. “I think this one’s my favorite, the colors are beautiful, and you can just see how it’s showing all the different voices going on in your head,” said Luttrell

Is county a sports or arts focused school?

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
December 14, 2023
Students of all grade levels fill the stands at the Power Buff game. All around you can hear students cheering as the announcer narrates the game.

Power buff not powder puff: seniors win the annual power buff game 21-7 against juniors

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
November 5, 2023
Students of all grade levels fill the stands at the Power Buff game. All around you can hear students cheering as the announcer narrates the game.

Meet the librarians!

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
December 1, 2023
This is one of the many student artworks Luttrell enjoys keeping in her office. “I think this one’s my favorite, the colors are beautiful, and you can just see how it’s showing all the different voices going on in your head,” said Luttrell

Is county a sports or arts focused school?

Scarlett Ashford, Staff Writer
November 5, 2023
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