The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Social studies teacher Mitchell Joy lectures during his AP World History class last school year. While the school policy on students use of phones in class has not changed since last year, many teachers have increased their enforcement of the policy.
Teachers increase phone policy enforcement
Dr. Thomas Taylor, the Board of Education's 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
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 it's 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 they're rejected, they're not alone. "I'm scared I'll be rejected from the schools I will apply to, so it's comforting to know I wouldn't 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 Wildcats make a statement entrance as they prepare to take on Richard Montgomery. WJ would go on to win the game 53-22.
Fall Sports Previews
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 John's 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
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
Katie Campbell

Katie Campbell, Online Editor-in-Chief

Katie is excited to spend her senior year as an Online Editor-in-Chief for the Pitch. She enjoys playing soccer, reading, and watching Monk.
All content by Katie Campbell
Hispanic/Latin Heritage Club: Mariana Ramirez Lemus Mariana Lemus, president of the Hispanic Latin Culture Club has utilized her business and leadership skills to create a safe space where students can express their ideas, concerns, questions, while learning about what Latinos have contributed to this country through their culture and traditions. “ I will always remember the warmth and the love that this club opened up their arms to me and made me feel identified when I was a freshman…I hope that Latinos unite and become stronger and empowered by one another,” Lemus said.

Honoring graduating senior club leaders at WJ

Katie Campbell, Online EIC
May 24, 2023
Katie Campbell's senior reflection

Katie Campbell’s senior reflection

Katie Campbell, Online EIC
May 24, 2023
Athletic Standout: Alex Chang Varsity hockey player Alex Chang performed notably throughout his high school career as a four year varsity athlete, playing a crucial role in the Icecats’ journey to winning the state championship this year. Chang has been skating for 16 years—almost his entire life—and playing hockey for 13. Now, he looks to play Division I Hockey at the University of Maine. “Being on any team really forces you to learn how to work with others, help resolve conflicts, and build relationships. There’s a lot more to sports than just going out and playing and that’s what’s so beautiful about the game,” Chang said.

Senior Standouts: Class of 2023 picks six seniors who stand out

Katie Campbell, Nour Faragallah and Raquel Daley
May 24, 2023
Senior Tiffany Gibson has dinner with her parents and her nine year old sister. Gibson's family has been her largest source of support throughout her treatment process. "[My dad] helped me through it. He was the one who’d take me to my doctor’s visits, he was trying to make me try to take my medication on time, even though he’d get angry when I didn’t take it. I had to do blood work, so he would always find out. He would always try to get me to take it and remind me," Gibson said.

Overcoming high school with Graves’ disease

Katie Campbell, Online EIC
March 28, 2023
Junior Natalya Krouse commits to play Division I lacrosse at University of Connecticut. She started playing competitively in the fourth grade. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play in college, but I felt like if I had been playing for that long, I wanted to play in college," Krouse said.

Teammates of nine years part ways to play Division I lacrosse

Katie Campbell, Online EIC
March 2, 2023
Lorraine Goldstein's Health A class learns about mental health. One of the reasons that Health B isn't being offered at WJ currently is that Health A has a new curriculum this year, and the teachers would be unable to teach two new courses simultaneously.

Health B to be implemented upcoming school year, creates conflict in class scheduling

Katie Campbell and Nour Faragallah
February 28, 2023
Security guard Kelly McDonnell checks students' ID cards as they walk into the building in the morning. These checks are done before school and at lunch to ensure the safety of students in the building and are only part of the duties of the security guards at school.

Black cadillacs to blue jackets: Kelly McDonnell’s career journey

Yuval Shachar and Katie Campbell
February 8, 2023
Members of the Middle Eastern North African (MENA) club paint a ceiling tile displaying the revolution's motto, "Women, Life, Freedom" written in different languages.

Iran’s fight for freedom: what students are doing to help

Sydney Fraser and Katie Campbell
January 24, 2023
In the Philippines, it is common for events to serve the meals on banana leaves, usually without plates or utensils. This meal is called a boodle feast, and it is traditional to eat with the hands.

Students preserve cultural diversity in new environment Pt. 2

Katie Campbell, Online EIC
December 21, 2022

Students interact with their teacher-parents in the building

Katie Campbell, Online Editor-in-Chief
November 1, 2022
Figueroa won two matches against an opponent who had been practicing martial arts for three years. "The next championship will be on Nov. 12 in Maryland. She is happy about this and wants to represent the school, if she wins this championship she will be next year in an international tournament in Florida where people who train [at a] very high meet," Jennifer's father, Jairo Andrés Figueroa said.

Jiu-jitsu prodigy, Jennifer Figueroa takes down the competition

Katie Campbell, Online EIC
November 1, 2022
A bobblehead version of the famous Walter Johnson nods at students passing by English teacher and baseball fan, Jason Krakower. Krakower was both a baseball player, as well as an editorial producer for Major League Baseball Advanced Media before he joined WJ's English department.

Meet the newest members of the English department

Katie Campbell, Online EIC
September 20, 2022
Junior Pearl Hoffman watches Gilmore Girls Season 6 episode 8, when Jess meets Logan for the first time and calls out Rory for her unusual behaviour.

Does Gilmore Girls romanticize affairs and the “rich snob” stereotype?

Katie Campbell, Online Feature Editor
June 16, 2022
While twins and seniors Ellen and Erin Osterman are also close friends, they don't always get along. “Birthdays are expensive, and they fall on the same day, so our birthdays would be the same, and we wouldn’t often agree on things. So one of us would end up getting their way, and that would lead to the other being really sad," Ellen said.

Siblings share unbreakable bonds

Katie Campbell, Online Feature Editor
May 24, 2022
Junior Keon Abasi looks to pass the ball during a U17 Bethesda White soccer game. Abasi played as a six before he became a permanent center defender.

After a history of broken bones: Keon Abasi bounces back

Katie Campbell, Online Feature Editor
May 4, 2022
School psychologist Kimberly McGonigle works in her office, room 158D.

Q&A with school psychologist

Katie Campbell, Online Feature Editor
April 5, 2022
Counselor Raquel Wood keeps her office door open, welcoming to students in need. “We were prepared to have students, and had our doors open and were ready, but no students came to me," counselor Heather Dodge said.

The emotional costs of being a caring counselor

Katie Campbell, Online Feature Editor
April 3, 2022
“In my country, we don’t have those kinds of problems. I couldn’t believe something like that could happen here. I think the best way is to try to avoid problems. What else can I do? I have no choice but to go to school,” Julian Garcia, 12

Up at Bat: What are your thoughts on the incident at Magruder and school safety?

Katie Campbell
February 9, 2022
Sophomore Viktoria Koch-Paiz spends quality time with her five year old horse, Grayson. "It was exciting to bond and train my horse and learn new things with him, even though it was difficult at times," Koch-Paiz said.

WJ reminisces on the silver linings of 2021

Katie Campbell, Online Feature Editor
January 27, 2022
Junior Kathleen Winter and her friends enjoy lunch together every day. These moments help break up the school day and make the stresses of academia and socializing much more manageable.

Students find solace in social groups

Katie Campbell and Ruby Topalian
January 6, 2022
The popular "coexist" logo has been used from bumper stickers to flags. Acceptance of a community of different religions coexisting with one another is encouraged, especially in the school environment.

Religion generates diversity in student body

Katie Campbell, Online Feature Editor
January 5, 2022
The old WJ building was much smaller than it is today. It used to be located in the middle of a field with cows surrounding it.

Staff reveal what WJ was like in the past

Katie Campbell and Tissa Amaira
November 16, 2021
Daylight Saving: Is it worthwhile?

Daylight Saving: Is it worthwhile?

Katie Campbell and Nour Faragallah
November 11, 2021
A student struggles to solve an equation regarding limits and end behaviours. Honors Precalculus is one of the most notorious courses high schoolers encounter. “My teacher Ms. Bullock, she was saying that in week 5, she got like 25 new students. Our class is pretty crowded, and a lot of them have switched out from my previous math class," junior Tyler McClellan said.

Students drop from honors to on-level precalculus

Katie Campbell, Online Feature Editor
October 28, 2021
English teacher Marc Waldman assists a student with an English assignment on his Chromebook. Waldman encourages questions and participation in the classroom. “I just hope that people always realize that they can approach me, and if I can’t help them, I guarantee you, I know someone who can,” Waldman said.

Teachers reveal their views on teaching

Katie Campbell, Online Feature Editor
October 15, 2021
In Siberia, Russia, villagers reside in small farm-like houses made of stone and wood. Korotaev spent his summers in the village, harvesting potatoes, and tending to chickens, rabbits, and cows.

Students preserve cultural diversity in new environment

Katie Campbell, Online Feature Editor
September 20, 2021

WJ Girls soccer players compare school vs. club teams

Katie Campbell, Online Feature Editor
June 15, 2021
With the sudden increase of free time that quarantine has brought students have decided to use it to their advantage. Many have taken to the outdoors, both for exercise and relaxation.

Has quarantine encouraged students to become more active?

Katie Campbell, Special to The Pitch
December 21, 2020
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