The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Sara Elster

Sara Elster, Print News Editor

Senior Sara Elster is looking forward to her first year on the Pitch as a Print News Editor. When not writing for the Pitch, Sara enjoys baking, practicing taekwondo, and hanging out with friends.

All content by Sara Elster
Released on Netflix on March 8, Damsel provides a refreshing new take on the traditional fairytale as Elodie, rather than waiting for a man to save her, saves herself after being betrayed and thrown into a dragoness lair. (Courtesy IMP Awards)

Damsel puts feminist spin on traditional fairytale

Sara Elster, Print News Editor
April 24, 2024
Senior Lucas Jaho discusses college acceptances with counselor Ashley Weddle. So far, Jaho has been admitted to the University of Michigan, Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh and Ohio State University. The University of Pittsburgh, Penn State and Ohio State are among the list of colleges who have pushed back their decision deadlines due to FAFSA delays.

Colleges postpone commitment deadlines due to FAFSA delays, leave students frustrated

Sara Elster, Print News Editor
April 4, 2024
Junior Maya Panicker goes into shock as she opens the College Board website and sees that her scores have been canceled. After thousands of allegations and reports of cheating on the SAT School Day exam, College Board has canceled all scores. Im beyond devastated. I knew that some people took liberties with their exam, but I didnt realize there were so many. I mean, some people are bound to cheat, but that doesnt mean everyone should be punished, Panicker said.

Students found cheating on SAT, scores canceled

Sara Elster, Print News Editor
April 1, 2024
Ryan Oliver, Class of 2021, (left), Melissa Marquez, Class of 1986, (middle), Dylan Oliver, Class of 2025 (right)

Passing the torch: experiences of WJ legacies

Sara Elster, Print News Editor
March 8, 2024
Science Olympiad - Neb Mammo

Academic All-Stars: Students shine in club competition

Elli Karistinou, Sara Elster, Abby Kee, Geetanjali Raju and Maya Panicker
February 2, 2024
Released on Dec. 19, fans from all around the world joined together to watch the long awaited, highly anticipated first episode of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians television show. With high hopes for this new show, fans were very surprised when author Rick Riordan made several changes to the storyline.

New Percy Jackson series should be dubbed “Peter Johnson” due to extreme plot changes

Sara Elster and Mackenzie Norris
February 1, 2024
The 81st Annual Golden Globes was hosted on Jan. 6 to celebrate the best of 2023s film and television. Hosted by comedian Jo Koy, the event distributed awards for 27 categories.

2024 Golden Globes crashes and burns with sexist host, dull awards

Sara Elster, Print News Editor
January 31, 2024
Honors English 11 teacher Eliana VanCuran teaches in room 195 on Tuesday, Dec. 12. Since mid-October, VanCuran has been teaching in different classrooms due to illness and concerns of mold in her classroom, room 168.

Potential mold in building concerns teachers, students

Sara Elster, Print News Editor
December 15, 2023
Journey to Bethlehem, directed by Adam Anders, is a musical retelling of the biblical story of the Nativity of Jesus. Released on Nov. 10, the musical follows the Virgin Mary through her pregnancy as she faces accusations of adultery and eventually travels to Bethlehem to give birth.

Feminist approach to Nativity story flops in “Journey to Bethlehem”

Mackenzie Norris and Sara Elster
November 30, 2023
A security guard checks students IDs at the athletic circle entrance on Friday, Nov. 3. Students often quickly flash their IDs to get in, meaning anyone with a backpack and a green ID would likely be let in by security. Students who forget their ID also find it easy to sneak back into school, meaning people who dont belong in the school wouldnt have difficulty sneaking in either.

WJ needs to improve school security for students’ safety

Sara Elster, Print News Editor
November 16, 2023
During a joint meeting between MSA, MENA and the Persian club on Friday, Oct. 13, students anonymously shared their reactions to the attack. Many were saddened by the news, yet felt unheard and overlooked by the larger WJ community.

Student groups respond to Israel-Hamas crisis

Ely Snow, Sara Elster and Rhea Noumair
October 24, 2023
Earlier this year, College Board changed the scoring requirements for the writing section of AP US History, AP Modern World History and AP European History. Changes made to the DBQ will make the essay drastically easier for students taking these exams in the coming years.

AP history exam rubric changes are setting students up for failure

Sara Elster, Print News Editor
October 20, 2023
Principal Intern Nicole Morgan presents updates about an upcoming Culture of Respect lesson during an after school Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 17. During the meeting, Morgan and other ILT members discussed and analyzed data from different departments within the school. Other participants in the meeting included administrators, resource teachers and elected faculty representatives.

Assistant Principal Nicole Morgan embarks on new journey as principal intern

Sara Elster, Print News Editor
October 20, 2023
Junior Alex Koscelnik waits in the checkout line at Giant on Wed., June 14. The Pay-and-Go system was implemented on May 5 as an attempt to limit unruly behavior in restaurants and stores. Pay-and-Go is just one of the current policies that admin plans to discuss further during the summer ILT meeting.

Admin plans to discuss school policy in upcoming summer meeting

Sara Elster, Print News Editor
June 15, 2023
Students and faculty members meet with representatives of the Anti-Defamation League to discuss anti-semitism in Montgomery County.

WJ combats antisemitism

Sara Elster, Print News Editor
May 24, 2023
Members share and enjoy brownies at a Bake with Kindness meeting. The club aims to give back to the community through baking together.

Bake with Kindness organizes bake sales to help people in need

Sara Elster, Special to the Pitch
December 14, 2022
Junior Brandon Moon catches up with the latest copy of People Magazine on Nov 18 at Giant. He was shopping at Giant when the cover model of People Magazine, Chris Evans, caught his eye. “Chris Evans is a very fine looking man, but I personally believe that Michael B. Jordan should have won the [Sexiest Man Alive] title again,” Moon said.

WJ Students react to “2022’s Sexiest Man Alive” Chris Evans

Sara Elster, Special To The Pitch
December 7, 2022
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