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  • 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
Liam Barrett

Liam Barrett, Podcast Editor

Junior Liam Barrett is the Podcast Editor for his first year on the Pitch, and hosts The Change-Up. Liam is also a member of the Mock Trial and the Morning Announcements teams, and his hobbies include reading and martial arts.

All content by Liam Barrett
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.

Photo gallery: Emptiest classes after senior exodus

Liam Barrett, Online Managing Editor
June 10, 2024

The Change-Up: J1 Podcast Features

Liam Barrett, Podcast Editor
May 10, 2024
Sophomore Ronan Mailhot (Javert) yells at sophomore Benjamin Kish (Jean Valjean) during the opening performance, “Look down.” The two actors paired very well together, and their interactions throughout the show were fierce and powerful. “A couple months after rehearsal, when they were doing a run-through, literally my jaw dropped…I didn’t even realize some of my friends could sing so well,” freshman Abigail Friedlin said.

Photo gallery: WJ STAGE performs Les Misérables

Liam Barrett and Rhea Noumair
May 4, 2024
The Saturday cast of Les Misérables salutes the audience during the curtain call. Various core cast members from Friday appeared in Saturdays ensemble, and vice versa.

‘Les Misérables’ anything but miserable

Liam Barrett and Rhea Noumair
April 26, 2024

The Change-Up: Spring Sports Yap Session

Liam Barrett, Seyun Park and Joshua Singer
April 5, 2024
Cars whiz towards the Connecticut Avenue exit on 495 East, with speeds generally ranging anywhere from 40-80 mph.

Students share favorite driving, parking practice spots

Liam Barrett, Podcast Editor
March 21, 2024

The Change-Up: The Landon Death Lawsuit

Liam Barrett and Elli Karistinou
March 1, 2024
Studying for the SAT is often a significant source of stress for high school students, but former WJ student Alexander Lewton doesnt think Dartmouths change to requiring standardized test scores should cause panic. Don’t take this as a sign that like ‘oh my goodness your SAT has to be perfect,” Lewton said.

Dartmouth College eliminates test-optional policy

Liam Barrett, Podcast Editor
February 15, 2024

The Change-Up: State of the School

Liam Barrett, Podcast Editor
February 2, 2024
Pitch Picks books

Pitch Picks books

Liam Barrett and Rhea Noumair
February 2, 2024
Mock Trial

Academic All-Stars: Students shine in club competition

Elli Karistinou, Sara Elster, Abby Kee, Geetanjali Raju and Maya Panicker
February 2, 2024

The Change-Up: 1 on 1 ~ Mia Magone

Liam Barrett, Online Managing Editor
January 22, 2024

The Change-Up: 1 on 1 ~ Cody Herwald

Liam Barrett, Online Managing Editor
January 5, 2024
Many students rarely visit their counselors, forcing them to write bland, unimpressive recommendations. “Colleges aren’t interested in hearing me talk about grades, right, because they get a transcript, they know what a students grades are. So in the letter what they’re looking for is those other things; you know, what is the student involved in, how did they impact the school community,” Reynolds said.

Students should talk to their counselors more often

Liam Barrett, Podcast Editor
November 13, 2023

The Change-Up: Painted Ceiling Tiles Lore

Liam Barrett, Online Managing Editor
November 10, 2023

The Change-Up: Club Spotlight – Sports Clubs

Liam Barrett, Online Managing Editor
October 27, 2023

The Change-Up: Club spotlight – Art & Music Clubs

Liam Barrett, Podcast Editor
October 13, 2023

The Change-Up: Club Spotlight – Niche Clubs

Liam Barrett, Online Managing Editor
September 29, 2023
AP US History teacher Katherine Simmons sits at her desk, responding to emails before she starts grading the recent AP US History DBQ assignment. Although it was a lunch period, technically time for relaxation, teachers who don’t take advantage of the extra time to catch up on work are rare.

AP grader reveals realities of profession

Liam Barrett, Podcast Editor
May 24, 2023
After a long hiatus, TV morning announcements are back

After a long hiatus, TV morning announcements are back

Jona Jancewicz, Online Editor-in-Chief
February 24, 2023
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