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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
All content by Photo by Seyun Park
Freshman Elizabeth Borissow hugs senior Maya Rickles while others cry following the teams 18-0 loss to Urbana. Despite losing four seniors this year, talents like Borissow and other freshmen will return next year to compete again.

Softball falls to Urbana to end season

Seyun Park, Print News Editor
May 22, 2023
One of the bathrooms locked by security was the gender-neutral bathroom on the G-level by the child development room. Various bathrooms are and will continued to be locked as security works to prevent overdoses and improve student safety.

Security locks certain bathrooms during school day

Seyun Park, Print News Editor
February 6, 2023
Superintendent Monifa McKnight and Principal Jennifer Baker pose for a photo outside of the college and career center. McKnight visited WJ friday to talk about AP and IB classes. One of McKnights budget proposals is to eliminate all fees for taking AP and IB exams.

Superintendent McKnight visits WJ

Alexander Lewton and Seyun Park
January 9, 2023
The WJ Pantry Club held a food drive for the Manna Food Center on Nov. 14-18. Many clubs and groups were holding drives to give back to the community.

Community gives back through holiday drives

Seyun Park, Print News Editor
December 11, 2022
The team and crowd celebrates their win. They will next face second-seed Churchill HS (13-1).

Girls’ volleyball blocks Viking attack

Seyun Park, Print News Editor
November 7, 2022
MCPS and community leaders address questions about the audit. Pictured (from left): Brenda Wolff (President of the Board of Education), Monifa McKnight, (Superintendent), Stephanie Sharon (Office of Strategic Initiatives), Anthony Alston (MAEC), John Landesman (Office of Strategic Initiatives) and Carla Morris (Montgomery County Council of PTAs)

MCPS announces results of antiracist system audit

Seyun Park, Print News Editor
October 21, 2022
North Bethesda Middle school was breached during the school day on Oct. 6. Many rumors have circulated, including that the intruder was armed, but have been proven false.

Unarmed intruder causes panic at North Bethesda Middle School

Mia Magone, Business Manager
October 20, 2022
Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight speaks at a press conference announcing the results of the audit. McKnight is MCPSs first female and second African-American superintendent.

MCPS and community leaders address questions about the audit. Pictured (from left): Brenda Wolff (President of the Board of Education), Monifa McKnight, (Superintendent), Stephanie Sharon (Office of Strategic Initiatives), Anthony Alston (MAEC), John Landesman (Office of Strategic Initiatives) and Carla Morris (Montgomery County Council of PTAs)

The Wildcats huddle together prior to the start of the game against Quince Orchard. Wildcats won in straight sets, 3-0.

Girls’ volleyball beat Quince Orchard Cougars 3-0, look to finish season strong

Seyun Park, Print News Editor
October 13, 2022
Citi Open 2021 finalist Mackenzie McDonald fields a lob from champion Jannik Sinner in the 2021 championship match. DC has held this ATP event every year since 1969, except in 2020.

Citi Open brings professional tennis to Washington, D.C.

Seyun Park, Print News Editor
June 9, 2022
A student on a bike rides on the sidewalk, dangerously close to traffic on Rock Spring Drive. Dangerous unprotected sidewalks like this all across the county have led to numerous cyclist and pedestrian injuries and deaths.

Our roads are unsafe — and it’s costing us lives

Seyun Park, Staff Writer
April 20, 2022
Many colleges and universities that WJ students apply to and attend practice affirmative action in their admissions.

Affirmative action causes controversy

Seyun Park, Staff Writer
March 29, 2022
Freshmen Jasper Goldstein and Dylan Oliver work closely together on classwork for Algebra 2. Since students have returned to classrooms, everyone in school has been required to wear masks; however, this mandate may soon be lifted.

Board of education likely to rescind school mask mandate

Seyun Park, Staff Writer
February 28, 2022
Nathan Diehl teaches his APEX Biology class. APEX Biology 9 is one of the few cohorted classes that is offered by APEX, along with APEX English 9 and 10.

APEX needs to reverse program changes

Seyun Park, Staff Writer
February 18, 2022
Former WJ SRO Shate Jackson was temporarily placed back in school following the Magruder HS shooting. MCPS leaders are currently in talks about expanding the Community Engagement Officer program which would place police officers back in schools.

Point/Counterpoint: Should the SROs be reinstated?

Jalen Scott and Andrew Lansell
February 10, 2022
Former WJ SRO Shate Jackson was temporarily placed back in school following the Magruder HS shooting. However, the move is not expected to be permanent.

Magruder shooting revives SRO debate

Seyun Park, Staff Writer
February 9, 2022
MCPS closed schools on Monday, January 3, due to snow. In the future, days like this might be mitigated with virtual learning.

MCPS changes snow day policy, will consider virtual learning on case-by-case basis

Seyun Park, Staff Writer
February 8, 2022
APEX freshman Hannah Spellman examines cells under a microscope in her APEX Biology class. Spellman is one of 225 freshmen in APEX Reach this year, and takes APEX Biology as one of the core courses required by the program. “I dont think that there should be limited slots; I think they should consider more than GPA but not a strict test or extensive requirements,” Spellman said on the admissions process for APEX.

APEX reach program adapts to program changes

Seyun Park, Special to the Pitch
December 17, 2021
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The Pitch

The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

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