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  • 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
All content by Photo by Ishaan Ramola
Freshman Grant Levens hands the baton off to sophomore Jonah Daniel. The boys track team won both the 4x400 and 4x800 meter relays against Richard Montgomery on Wednesday, March 22.

WJ athletics Spring into new season

Elizabeth Finn, Audrey Ring, Raquel Tolin, Sebastian Beltran, Joshua Singer, Josh Hananel, Blake Bailey and Jose Tovar
March 22, 2023
From left: BSU treasurer Olivia Profit and BSU Vice President Kyla Johnson perform “Can you hear us now?” by poet Serenity Rush.

Black Student Union celebrates Black History Month by hosting impactful assembly

Zsuzsanna Juhasz, Ishaan Ramola and Sanir Byanjankar
March 1, 2023
On Wednesday, Feb.8, the Asian American Student Union (AASU) held a Lunar New Year celebration during lunch in the Student Commons. “I hope that [the students] learned more about East Asian culture and Lunar New Year because I think that Lunar New Year isn’t as popular in America, it’s not really a big holiday on the calendar either. So, I just hope they learned about it and maybe celebrate themselves if they want,” freshman Anna Jhon said.

The Asian American Student Union celebrates the lunar new year

Sammie Cohen, Diversity and Inclusion Editor
February 17, 2023
Sophomore Zachary Wray pins a wrestler from Northwood. He went on to win this match before falling in the second round.

Wrestling team loses in region quarterfinals, prepares for varsity counties

Dylan Schmidt, Print Sports Editor
February 16, 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
Senior Enzo Yamasaki wrestles against his opponent from Richard Montgomery. He was declared the winner by pin, contributing six points to the Wildcats.

Wrestling team dominates RM and Seneca Valley, loses to Northwest

Dylan Schmidt, Print Sports Editor
January 31, 2023
Sophomore Dylan Schoen wrestles against his counterpart from Quince Orchard. He won his match after pinning the wrestler, contributing six points to the Wildcats slight victory.

WJ Wrestling defeats Quince Orchard 40-39 after winning tiebreaker criteria

Dylan Schmidt, Print Sports Editor
January 24, 2023
The control booth right across the stage manages the audio and visuals for the auditorium. It has access to two air handler rooms and also has roof access.

Hidden spaces around WJ

Ishaan Ramola, Photography Editor
January 24, 2023
Students celebrate Vincent Aboubakars goal for Cameroon.

Student organizations celebrate holidays

Allison Xu and Ishaan Ramola
December 20, 2022
Students in Jaime Grimes anatomy class use Wednesday Wellness time to catch up on work. Wildcat Wellness is a great idea but needs to be expanded to all classes like last year because not everyone takes all classes in the wellness rotation.

Wildcat Wednesdays need to change

Nour Faragallah, Online EIC
December 15, 2022
Students from International Club create a mural on the white board for all the things they are thankful for. For students who have just moved to the US, like sophomore Camila Hernandez, this event has shown them what the holiday is all about. “I’m from Colombia; it’s my first Thanksgiving. [This event] makes me know how they celebrate because I dont know anything about [Thanksgiving],” Hernandez said.

International club hosts Thanksgiving

Sydney Fraser, Sammie Cohen and Ishaan Ramola
November 29, 2022
The step team gets ready to put on a performance during halftime at the varsity game. It was nerve-wracking especially since it was my first time performing with this team, we have a lot to improve on but it was an experience Ill never forget, freshman Meher Parsinni said.

Homecoming game experience brings thrill

Ishaan Ramola
November 4, 2022
AP US History teacher Nathan Schwartz delivers a lecture to his class per the College Board curriculum. AP students learn the important skill of note-taking from these college-level lectures.

Point/Counterpoint: Are AP classes worth it?

Mia Halper and Nicole Weaver
October 25, 2022
Flippin Pizza employee takes orders from students during lunch.

Local employees view WJ students in a disturbing light

Charlie Landis and Matthew Ashman
October 13, 2022
Security guard Kelly McDonnell checks students identification badges as they reenter the building after lunch. The new safety measures implemented this school year require all students and staff to wear an identification at all times in school.

WJ security department implements new policies

Sydney Fraser, Layout Editor
September 28, 2022
Student Kiran Chaudry and AP Human Geography teacher Elizabeth Muehl go over a hard copy assignment. More teachers have been handing out hardcopy assignments, distancing from the Covid-19 norms of electronic assignments.

Students react to hard copy assignment submission after Covid years

Rutajit Shetty, Business Manager
September 28, 2022
“I disagree with it because we are still in a pandemic and people are still getting covid but I also agree with it because people have had to deal with masks for a long time now and a lot of people are fully vaccinated and boosted. -Pearse Worden, 9

Up at bat: How do students feel about the mask mandate being lifted?

Ishaan Ramola, Staff Writer
March 17, 2022
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