• The Pitch staff is on summer break and will resume publishing in September
  • The first day of school is Monday, August 26
  • Have a great summer!
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Dr. Thomas Taylor, the Board of Educations pick for the next superintendent, stands with members of the Board at the announcement on Monday. Taylor is a graduate of MCPS but has never worked for the district. (Courtesy MCPS News)
Dr. Thomas Taylor to be appointed MCPS superintendent
Incoming SGA plans for successful school year
Incoming SGA plans for successful school year
From left: Junior Honorary officer Skylar Zheng, junior Secretary Alexis Batac, junior President Sareen Papangelou. The officers of the Southeast Asian Union pose in front of a mural in the school. The club will join the school roster for the 2024-2025 school year, and all are welcome.
Southeast Asian Union to bring region’s culture, food to WJ
Film Club members gather around a table at Cabin John Park before the Oscars begin. Months of meetings and film discussions culminate in this special occasion, where students can finally showcase their movie-making abilities. (Courtesy Delina Palma)
Making Scorsese proud: Film Club Oscars strike again
MCPS Board of Education members raise their hands in favor of delaying construction at Woodward and Crown High Schools. The plan specifically calls for delaying auditoriums at both schools until funds are appropriated for their construction.
Live updates: MCPS Board meeting 6/11
Chronicling GW’s pro-Palestine encampment
Chronicling GW’s pro-Palestine encampment
Columbia University is one of many schools across the United States where large groups of students have been protesting at.
Columbia protests escalate
Item bought online from Demons Basement.
What’s wrong with these new online clothing brands?
The human mind is complex and may be a daunting concept for students. (Courtesy Rawpixel)
Why everyone should take AP Psychology
Travis Hunter is one of the most valuable college football players in the country. He moved from Jackson State University to the University of Colorado to join his former coach Dion Sanders. Hunter has an NIL evaluation of $2.7M according to On3.
College sports are ruined
ASL 2 students on the Gallaudet field trip watch their tour guide explain the life of the university’s founder, Laurent Clerc, pictured in the statue to the guide’s left. The tour guide signed in ASL throughout the tour and an interpreter translated his signs into English.
High school field trips benefit students and learning alike
Students sit in rows for very extensive hours as they take exams. This is a common scene all across the US, however in MCPS this sight cannot be found. (Courtesy Pexels)
Point counterpoint: Should there be final exams?
The new movie poster for the upcoming film Inside Out 2. The poster features existing emotions from its past film, as well as new emotions such as Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, Nostalgia and Ennui.
Inside Out 2: Preview into the realm of new emotions
Zendaya scowls into the lenses of paparazzi on the Met Gala carpet. 2024 was Zendaya’s first year co-chairing the Met as she hadn’t attended the red carpet spectacle in five years. (Courtesy Getty Images)
The Met Gala: rating 2024’s best and worst dressed
Twenty One Pilots Clancy review
Twenty One Pilots “Clancy” review
Billie Eilish released her third studio album Hit Me Hard and Soft, on May 17. All 10 songs on her brand new album were able to make their way up into the Billboard Hot 100. (Courtesy Glenn Francis via Wikimedia Commons)
Billie Eilish: “Hit Me Hard and Soft” most viral tracks
Drake performs on his Summer Sixteen tour in 2016. Along with many other rappers, he was accused of being an industry plant at the beginning of his career. (Courtesy The Come Up Show)
Are industry plants real?
Coming soon: movies coming out in 2024
Coming soon: movies coming out in 2024
Students hard at work during class. Many students struggle with balancing work with play. Students share how they overcome distractions and prioritize their work.
Balance between school life and extracurriculars and athletics
The Oreos have been a classic cookie for generations but which one is the best one? Out of all the different fillings, is there one that stands alone? (Courtesy nicoleleec via Wikimedia Commons)
How much stuf is too much stuff?
Special clubs at WJ to check out
Special clubs at WJ to check out
Sophomore Ahrin Letourneau looks through the College Board website attempting to get information about the SAT and ACT. “I’m feeling scared, petrified to be honest, to be a junior. Summer’s gonna be stressful … and I need to be really thinking about colleges and programs,” Letourneau said.
Previewing the summer by grade
A student reviews the rejection wall. The rejection wall was created to encourage students to know that even if theyre rejected, theyre not alone. Im scared Ill be rejected from the schools I will apply to, so its comforting to know I wouldnt be the only one, junior Cristina Simpson said.
What summer looks like for rising seniors
From left: Junior Honorary officer Skylar Zheng, junior Secretary Alexis Batac, junior President Sareen Papangelou. The officers of the Southeast Asian Union pose in front of a mural in the school. The club will join the school roster for the 2024-2025 school year, and all are welcome.
Southeast Asian Union to bring region’s culture, food to WJ
The WJ Crew team poses for a picture following the Metropolitan Championships. The team had many good races at the tournament, such as the Girls winning the Varsity 4. (Courtesy WJ Crew)
Crew in review: team paddles their way to success
ALL IN THE FOOTWORK: Participants practice their blocking footwork and learn flag football blocking techniques. During the drill, a coach held and moved the ball to one side which participants would have to shuffle over to.
Girls’ flag clinic brings excitement to MCPS
Jonny Venters is one of the only pitchers to ever receive Tommy Johns surgery three times. He had the operation performed in 2005, 2013 and lastly in 2014.
Pitchers look to surgery for success
After taking a hard foul, sophomore Norah Youssef takes her first free throw attempt. Youssef sank the shot and added a point to the scoreboard. Youssef had a stunning performance, helping the Wildcats secure the win against Sherwood.
Photo gallery: Summer league basketball
(Courtesy Seattle Parks and Recreation)
Pickleball volleys into WJ this fall
The 2024 EURO trophy in FC Koln’s stadium in Cologne, one of the 10 host stadiums at the tournament. (Courtesy Raimond Spekking)
Looking ahead at the 2024 Euros
Public Transportation Safety Podcast
Public Transportation Safety Podcast
Up at bat: Duolingo streaks
Up at bat: Duolingo streaks
What is your special talent?
After taking a hard foul, sophomore Norah Youssef takes her first free throw attempt. Youssef sank the shot and added a point to the scoreboard. Youssef had a stunning performance, helping the Wildcats secure the win against Sherwood.
Photo gallery: Summer league basketball
Physics classes visit Six Flags
Siblings Podcast
Siblings Podcast
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch

Creativity amid uncertainty: Aidana Aibek Kyzy

Stella Hadamer, Senior Feature Editor • December 19, 2020
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  • When asked about inspiration, Aibek Kyzy also mentioned more specific influences. “I’m often inspired by kpop!” Aibek Kyzy said.

    Art courtesy of Aidana Aibek Kyzy
    Creativity+amid+uncertainty%3A+Aidana+Aibek+Kyzy

  • Aibek Kyzy doesn’t always set out to make fully completed art works. “I consider it [the image] finished because very often I focus on refining the face while the rest is sketched out,” Aibek Kyzy said.

    Art Courtesy of Aidana Aibek Kyzy
    Creativity+amid+uncertainty%3A+Aidana+Aibek+Kyzy

  • “I’m most inspired by people from pop culture, I don’t really draw anything other than people,” Aibek Kyzy said.

    Art Courtesy of Aidana Aibek Kyzy
    Creativity+amid+uncertainty%3A+Aidana+Aibek+Kyzy
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In this edition of “Creativity amid uncertainty” our featured artist is junior Aidana Aibek Kyzy.
Aibek Kyzy’s art mainly focuses on neutral color palettes with some accents, while trying to capture expressions and refine facial features.

Our brief Q&A:

Q: How has art helped you cope with quarantine?

A: By doing art I let my mind focus entirely on one thing which let’s me temporarily escape from reality. It is an enjoyable way to spend my time while simultaneously practicing and improving.

Story continues below advertisement

Q: What inspires your art?

A: Mainly pop culture like music and tv shows.

Q: What influences your art style?

A: I draw with this art style because it comes out naturally and is easiest for me. I think my art style comes from a mix of a bunch of other styles combined.

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From left: Junior Honorary officer Skylar Zheng, junior Secretary Alexis Batac, junior President Sareen Papangelou. The officers of the Southeast Asian Union pose in front of a mural in the school. The club will join the school roster for the 2024-2025 school year, and all are welcome.
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After taking a hard foul, sophomore Norah Youssef takes her first free throw attempt. Youssef sank the shot and added a point to the scoreboard. Youssef had a stunning performance, helping the Wildcats secure the win against Sherwood.
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Surrounded by empty desks, AP Literature teacher Melanie MacFadden prepares to read the names of graduating students at Thursdays ceremony. Generally from year to year what I usually do [after the seniors leave] is go back through and take a look at the curriculum for AP Literature and see if I want to make any changes, so Ive been working on that as well, MacFadden said.
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SHAPE IT! Junior Birch Robinson uses a potters wheel in her ceramics class to make a small bowl for her friend. She made a chip and dip bowl by carving out the shape and making the edges smoother. “I’m making a chip and dip bowl for Seren because she likes guacamole,” Robinson said.
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In their final meeting, Film Club shares many fun and interesting last conversations. Throughout the year, Film Club has done many different, exciting things together. “My favorite thing we’ve done this year was probably our Oscars watch party. We all went to an officers house and had a huge party on the night of the Oscars. We got to come together and bond over something fun,” junior Mwape Sokoni said.
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Junior Oksana Vorobiova presents Ukrainian food and drink. I love the candy, I think its very sweet with a lot of different flavor, Vorobiova said.
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About the Contributor
Stella Hadamer
Stella Hadamer, Print Editor-in-Chief
Senior Stella Hadamer is very excited to be a Print Editor-in-Chief in her third year on the Pitch. When she is not writing or editing articles she enjoys re-reading her favorite books, listening to music and hanging out with her friends.

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