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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
Sara Karbowski

Sara Karbowski, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Editor

Senior Sara Karbowski is excited to join the Pitch as an Equity and Inclusion editor! It is her first year on the Pitch and she likes to write haikus in her free time.

All content by Sara Karbowski
WJ Rock Climbing Club meets to make climbing a more accessible sport for students. During their interest meeting, the club brainstormed exciting future activity ideas such as outdoor climbing. “I do mostly indoor but I love outdoor climbing,” vice president sophomore Sophia Babayev said.

Rock Climbing Club brings a unique sport to WJ

Sara Karbowski, Staff Writer
February 9, 2024
New electives will be available from the next school year. The two new AP courses, AP Seminar and AP African American Studies have especially appealed to students at WJ. Sometimes I wish I had a fifth year so I could take the electives I wasnt able to fit into my schedule, senior Ziqing Chu said.

New electives enrich academic opportunities at WJ

Sara Karbowski, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Editor
January 26, 2024
Thai Class Club members fold origami flowers to celebrate Loy Krathong Day. The club started this year and held their sixth meeting. Im happy that our members find our meetings informative and engaging. It gives us [the] motivation to continue doing something that we enjoy, secretary senior Fannie Sukhumparnich said.

Thai Class Club creatively shares Thai culture and language

Sara Karbowski, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Editor
January 5, 2024
Freshmen Nayela Binte Mahmood, Aman Kalsi and Akki Srivastava dress in Diwali outfits.

Photo gallery: Annual Diwali Celebration held at the Student Commons

Sara Karbowski, Equity & Inclusion Editor
November 30, 2023
Senior Fannie Sukhumparnich is one of the captains of the WJ Golf Team. This year, she won fifth place in the Maryland Golf Championship Individual Girls event. It was nice to see my friends there. Golf allows me to connect with many people, Sukhumparnich said.

Q & A: Golf co-captain Fannie Sukhumparnich’s 10 years of success

Sara Karbowski, Staff Writer
November 16, 2023
“Prevention of illness should be prioritized just as much as treating active symptoms : get your flu shot,” senior Samantha Mouyard said.

Tips and tricks for the upcoming flu season

Sara Karbowski, Staff Writer
October 23, 2023
Standardized testing is one way students showcase their academic capabilities. For the past few years, many colleges and universities have established test-optional policies. These policies enable students to make a decision and reflect on their academic lives.

Test optional policies are beneficial for students

Sara Karbowski, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Editor
September 20, 2023

War in Ukraine presists

Sara Karbowski, Staff Writer
June 16, 2022
In White Flint, some parts of the platforms dont have roofs. This makes it difficult to wait for trains when its raining and very dark at night. What are some ways to renovate metro stations?

Are metro stations underfunded?

Sara Karbowski, Staff Writer
May 18, 2022
The inflation rate hit 7.9%, being the highest since January of 1982. Inflation affects everybody, said economics teacher Theisen Healey. Read to find out how!

How the spiking inflation impacts life

Sara Karbowski, Staff Writer
April 21, 2022
World-famous boba shop, Tiger Sugar, newly opened last year at Federal Plaza. This is their signature drink, Brown Sugar Boba Milk with Pearl and Cream Mousse. It is a must-try drink that will change your boba experience! I like boba and I think Tiger Sugar has the best ones, sophomore Carol Li said.

Boba shops to feed your crave

Sara Karbowski, Staff Writer
March 25, 2022
MCPS has been launching a number of new initiatives to support the everyday lives of people in the county. But what are they and how do they help students?

MCPS initiatives that you need to know about

Sara Karbowski, Staff Writer
March 11, 2022
A student is thinking about what class she is going to take next year. She is interested in journalism, but the fact that it doesn’t count for any specific graduation requirement, like art, is stopping her from taking it. Shouldn’t all elective classes count for some type of graduation requirement?

Credits should count towards elective classes

Sara Karbowski, Staff Writer
February 23, 2022
Operation Smile Club (club page)

Operation Smile Club (club page)

Sara Karbowski, Special to the Pitch
December 3, 2021
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The Pitch

The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

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