This school year is our first normal year back. Masks are no longer required, and people are finally starting to get into their old routines: hitting the blasting alarm at 6 a.m., attending seven classes a day made possible only by downing a venti latte, and searching countless sites to find the perfect prom dress. This year has definitely felt like a new start, a new rhythm, and we wanted to acknowledge that in the pages of our magazine.

That is why we chose “Rhythm” as our theme. We wanted to stress the process of getting back into the flow of things, making new paths, and reclaiming what we once knew. Part of creating a new rhythm involved tapping into the creative process. There’s plenty of evidence of this in the rhythm of poetry and patterns of artwork in our pages.

“Syncopate,” the title of this year’s magazine, captures the new rhythms we are creating in our lives, which are reflected in the creative works in Chips. We hope you work our magazine into the rhythm of your own life, and enjoy it.

-Ellie Gips, 2022-2023 Editor-in-Chief

In 1937, a group of students decided that Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School needed its own literary arts magazine. They adopted the name Chips, as they broke away from the yearbook, The Pinetree. Since then it has been a tradition to vote for a theme for the magazine. Based on the theme, the staff chooses a title for each issue, begins the issue with a quote, and ends the issue with a piece from a past edition of Chips.

Chips is an annual publication produced by students at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in a class that meets every day. Student editors instruct the class in critiquing procedures, layout techniques, and oversee all evaluating sessions, fundraising activities, and marketing. The class reviews all submissions anonymously and a majority vote is needed for inclusion in the magazine. Staff members reserve the right to omit offensive material and correct spelling and grammar errors.

Chips accepted writing and art submissions from all B-CC students through February 29, 2023, with no regard given to the theme of the magazine. The theme “rhythm” and title “Syncopate” were chosen by the staff by majority vote for this issue.            

Chips tries to encourage writing and art at B-CC. Pieces that are not accepted for publication are returned with suggestions for revision that are generated during our class critiques. Students are encouraged to revise and resubmit. Each year Chips co-sponsors a writing contest with the English Department, the Writer’s Center, and the B-CC Educational Foundation. Submissions in four categories—short story, poetry, play, and personal essay—are reviewed by the Chips staff and members of the English Department, and select pieces are then judged by professional writers at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD. All winners appear in the magazine. 

Dawn Charles, Faculty Sponsor

Rebeca Ventura, Editor-in-Chief

Matthew Carr, Writing Editor

Luna Nash, Art Editor

Mia Garret, Art Editor

Gigi Lopez, Layout Editor

Josephina Eggleton, Promotions Editor

Izzy Gieser

Kyla Chapman

Aitana Gaudenzi

Hailey Hammond

Virginia Hinds

Riley Coe

Kiersten McClure

Hannah Baule

Diana Moncada

Noa Fritschie

Alexis Morales

Excel Cirre Danielle Montepio