The Student Newspaper of Washington-Liberty High School

Crossed Sabres
The Student Newspaper of Washington-Liberty High School

Crossed Sabres
The Student Newspaper of Washington-Liberty High School

Crossed Sabres
Julia Van Lare

Julia Van Lare, Editor-in-Chief

Julia Van Lare is a senior currently in her fourth year on the Crossed Sabres staff, and is the editor-in-chief for the paper. She placed second in the National Scholastic Press Association’s Individual Award in the category COVID-19 Coverage: Online News or Features. Outside of writing for the newspaper, Julia does Taekwondo, participates in Model General Assembly, helps organize high school voter drives, plays recreational basketball and reads. You can also catch her watching Netflix, drowning under piles of homework or stalking the Washington Post’s TikTok account. 

All content by Julia Van Lare
A student on our gymnastics team mid-flip. Some gymnasts suffer from mental blocks which stop them from completing some moves.

[Photo] Pushing past the blocks

Karenna Keane, Managing Editor
September 10, 2021
Books read in the two year IB HL English class are stacked together. The teachers who instruct this course worked to include culturally diverse authors in the latest update to the county's required book list.

Wall-to-wall books

Julia Van Lare, Editor-in-chief
June 2, 2021

Senior sign off

Julia Van Lare, Editor-in-chief
May 27, 2021
Brill and her grandmother cook Shabbat dinner via Zoom. They prepared dishes from all over the world, from Vietnemese spring rolls to fish cakes.

Making meals and memories

Julia Van Lare, Editor-in-chief
May 26, 2021
APS second quarter data shows widening achievement gap

APS second quarter data shows widening achievement gap

Julia Van Lare, Editor-in-chief
March 26, 2021
Arlington Public School (APS) teachers and staff wait to be vaccinated. On Saturday, January 16 and Monday, January 18, an initial group of APS staff were vaccinated as part of the 1B stage of federal vaccine rollout.

APS staff receive COVID-19 vaccination

Julia Van Lare, Editor-in-chief
February 11, 2021
Seniors reflect on their extended essays

Seniors reflect on their extended essays

Julia Van Lare, Editor-in-chief
December 18, 2020
People celebrate in front of the White House after Biden’s win. He was declared the president-elect on November 7, 2020. The election was officially certified by the Electoral College on December 14, 2020.

[Photo] Get out the vote: Casting ballots in an unprecedented election season

Anna Lai, Design Editor
December 16, 2020
Residents of Washington, D.C. gather in front of the White House to celebrate Joseph Biden's win in the 2020 General Election. Before the election, several of the school's students participated in get-out-the-vote campaigns.

[Photo] Washington-Liberty students become politically involved through school clubs and societies

Hannah Kennedy, Staff Manager
December 11, 2020
DSC_0033

[Photo] Relearning how to recycle

Holland Forsythe and Luke Dangel
November 9, 2020
W-L teacher connects with students through music

W-L teacher connects with students through music

Julia Van Lare, Editor-in-chief
November 2, 2020
This is the schedule for virtual school. It will go into effect on September 8, when school begins.

Ten things you need to know about virtual learning

Julia Van Lare, Editor-in-chief
September 3, 2020
Dana Walkenhorst, at the time a senior, tours the “city museum” in St. Louis with a friend from New Orleans who was visiting. Walkenhorst and her younger brother lived with their grandpa in St. Louis for the first semester of Walkenhorst’s senior year.

Victims of Hurricane Katrina offer advice for dealing with COVID-19

Julia Van Lare, Editor-in-chief
August 15, 2020
An Arlington family displays a yard sign to honor their senior. The plan to distribute the signs was devised by the administration after seeing the idea implemented for other schools in Arlington.

Faculty and students honor seniors

Julia Van Lare, Editor-in-chief
June 28, 2020
The bike rack outside the school sits almost empty on a Thursday at 3:00. All Arlington schools are closed and all learning has taken place virtually.

W-L community debates distance learning

Julia Van Lare, Managing Editor
June 4, 2020
Untitled-Project (4)

Early decision gives unfair advantage to wealthy applicants

Early decision gives unfair advantage to wealthy applicants

Julia Van Lare, Managing Editor
April 23, 2020
A playground in Bluemont Park displays a sign closing it to the public. Arlington closed park facilities, including parks, playgrounds, fields, restrooms, tracks, dog parks and athletic courts, along with schools on March 23. Governor Ralph Northam issued a stay-at-home order on Monday, March 30, making it a misdemeanor to congregate in groups of more than ten in both public and private areas, whether indoor or outdoor.

Students react to Arlington closures

Julia Van Lare, Managing Editor
April 3, 2020
Senior Abby Presson, Editor in Chief of the Crossed Sabres, donates blood in the Inova bloodmobile. The hospital system is experiencing a critical shortage of blood due to the cancelation of events such as the Student Council Association's annual blood drive.

Blood drive cancelations lead to blood shortage

Julia Van Lare, Managing Editor
April 1, 2020
Arlington partners with Amazon for cloud-based curriculum

Arlington partners with Amazon for cloud-based curriculum

Julia Van Lare, Managing Editor
January 30, 2020
Image, created by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), reflects data from the 2018-2019 school year. An updated version has not yet been published.

School calendar shift

Julia Van Lare, Managing Editor
October 17, 2019
Washington-Liberty High School graduate Bemnet Negash greets one of Bakeshop's customers. Bakeshop shits usually consist of serving customers and prepping materials such as bags for use.

Bakeshop provides a unique job opportunity for students

Julia Van Lare, Managing Editor
October 15, 2019
Freshman Tess Muldowney and Kaitlyn Cooper practice their serves. To complete the exercise, the team had to make fifty serves over the net.

Ready, set, go

Julia Van Lare, Managing Editor
October 10, 2019
Sophomore Alana McBride is greeted by stormtroopers during one long January stay in the hospital. McBride was later inspired to volunteer in patient care at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, doing the same job others had done for her.

Sophomore diagnoses medical mystery patient

Julia Van Lare, Lifestyles Editor
April 30, 2019
Hannah Dembosky performs the poem “Today” by Billy Collins. The showcase included dances, films and speeches from those involved in the fundraiser.

Students lead showcase to raise money for cancer research

Julia Van Lare, Lifestyles Editor
March 15, 2019
The cast was told to pose in an “awkwardly sexual way” per instructions from their choreographer Randy Snight. According to Mr. Cassidy, only profanity will be taken out of the show, and all scenes will remain.

“Legally Blonde” rehearsals begin

Julia Van Lare, Lifestyles Editor
February 27, 2019
The mall construction workers recently painted Ballston’s name onto the side of the building. The newly-restored mall features several new entertainment options.

Ballston Quarter begins soft opening

Julia Van Lare, Lifestyles Editor
December 10, 2018
Freshman Emely Interiand begins reading “The Hate U Give”. The book was made into a movie and released on October 5 of this year.

“The Hate U Give” proves to be thoughtful look into race in America

Julia Van Lare, Lifestyles Editor
November 29, 2018
The school’s new book club discusses the book version of “The Hate U Give”. The club has met twice already, and plans to meet again on November 8.

New book club meets to watch and discuss “The Hate U Give”

Julia Van Lare, Lifestyles Editor
November 24, 2018
Sophomore Paige Dillon reads the University of Chicago’s pamphlet. Visiting colleges often provide information in these pamphlets, such as financial aid programs and graduation rates.

Students attend in-school visits from universities

Julia Van Lare, Lifestyles Editor
October 12, 2018
The "Lee" portion of the school's name is on full display in the front of the building. The School Board committed in June to renaming the school by fall of 2019.

Students sue School Board over lack of transparency

Julia Van Lare, Lifestyles Editor
September 18, 2018
Jimmy Kimmel has yet to apologize for his questionable past

Jimmy Kimmel has yet to apologize for his questionable past

Julia Van Lare, Lifestyles Editor
July 24, 2018
Don't worry, upperclassmen, you've got this

Don’t worry, upperclassmen, you’ve got this

Julia Van Lare, Staff Reporter
May 8, 2018
The sophomores work hard during tug of war.

School hosts annual SCA Olympics

Abigail Presson and Julia Van Lare
April 24, 2018
Acclaimed foreign correspondent and author shares experiences with students

Acclaimed foreign correspondent and author shares experiences with students

Julia Van Lare, Staff Reporter
March 13, 2018
C. Thomas reads his poetry to students during the African American read in.

Teachers share African-American poetry with students

Julia Van Lare and Kate Ford
February 27, 2018
Mr. Alex Robinson

Mr. Alex Robinson

Julia Van Lare and Gwen Taplin
February 16, 2018

Theater department prepares for premiere of Bye Bye Birdie

Julia Van Lare, Staff Reporter
February 1, 2018
The inductees were honored during in between the girls' and boys' varsity basketball games on Friday, January 19.

Six new athletes inducted to Hall of Fame

Julia Van Lare and Liam Holland
January 30, 2018
W-L junior Olympians find inspiration close to home

W-L junior Olympians find inspiration close to home

Kate Ford and Julia Van Lare
January 25, 2018
Figure 1: Updated Option A.v2

Plans for middle school boundaries disregard demographics

Julia Van Lare, Staff Reporter
December 21, 2017
Gymnastics slideshow - photos by Julia Van Lare

Flipping out with the gymnastics team

Julia Van Lare and Kate Ford
December 7, 2017
Freshman Anna Erskine participating in Girls' Cross Country

To be or not to be Washington-Lee

Julia Van Lare, Staff Writer
November 15, 2017
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The Student Newspaper of Washington-Liberty High School
Julia Van Lare