• The Pitch staff is on summer break and will resume publishing in September
  • 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
Sydney Fraser

Sydney Fraser, Layout and Design Editor

Sydney Fraser is a senior excited for her first year as Layout-Design editor on the Pitch. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, and hanging out with friends.

All content by Sydney Fraser
Sydney Frasers senior reflection

Sydney Fraser’s senior reflection

Sydney Fraser, Layout Editor
May 24, 2023
The South Asian Student Union offered samples of common dishes in South Asia. A lot of people came for food day -- it was a success, junior Aria Tahsmabi, one of the students who helped coordinate international week, said.

Exploring cultural diversity: A glimpse into International Week

Allison Xu, Sydney Fraser and Ishaan Ramola
March 10, 2023
Narcan can be sold in the form of a nasal spray or an injection and can restore the breathing of someone who overdosed in a matter of minutes. The drug is available in all 50 states without a prescription but a recent panel is pushing for it to be sold on shelves in pharmacies and grocery stores.

FDA pushes for easier access to overdose-reversal drug, Narcan

Sydney Fraser, Layout Editor
March 9, 2023
Throughout the month of February, dedicated student leaders are hosting events, performing in an assembly and educating the student body on important topics relating to Black History Month.

How BSU plans to celebrate Black History Month

Sydney Fraser and Sammie Cohen
February 3, 2023
Members of the Middle Eastern North African (MENA) club paint a ceiling tile displaying the revolutions motto, Women, Life, Freedom written in different languages.

Iran’s fight for freedom: what students are doing to help

Sydney Fraser and Katie Campbell
January 24, 2023
Portrait of a woman illustrated with pencil.

Artist of the issue: Aubrey Colwell

Sydney Fraser, Layout Editor
December 14, 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
Actor Bill Skarsgård, best known for his role as Pennywise in the supernatural horror film series IT, stars in the horror/thriller Barbarian. Skarsgard performed alongside actors Georgina Campbell and Justin Long.

“Barbarian,” a terrifying but entertaining haunted house horror film

Sydney Fraser, Layout Editor
November 11, 2022
Senior club president Sophia Ikeda helps junior Ciella Koe Bi with a lift during a club workout. WJs Buff Cats clubs goal is to encourage girls of all weight lifting experience levels to join.

Meet the Buff Cats club: promoting inclusivity in the weight room

Sydney Fraser, Layout Editor
October 30, 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
Juniors Maanya Upadhyay, Ella Tzeng and Naomi Joseph protest in response to the potential movement to overturn Roe v. Wade. I just think its really important for us to do something right now because now it is pretty crucial not just for women, but for non-binary and trans people. A number of people will be affected by it especially in our generation so its really important that we use our voice right now, Upadhyay said.

Students stand up for Roe v. Wade

Sydney Fraser, Staff Writer
June 17, 2022
SGA president Konchok Chopel, SGA VP Joey Barke, SGA Secretary Tatyana Ramirez, SGA Treasurer David Gardner all pose in front of the shed for the upcoming SGA student elections.

Students question SGA’s effectiveness

Sydney Fraser, Staff Writer
June 9, 2022
I am going to go to Chicago to visit my family and then my best friend is supposed to come over for my birthday, Melina Jankovski, 9

Up at bat: What are your plans for this summer?

Sydney Fraser, Staff Writer
May 29, 2022
Senior club president Camille Lorillou leads rehearsals for the spring pep rally. They prepared for weeks before they were ready to perform the dance for the event. There was a lot of work to do and I do tend to take a lot of responsibility and I push people for the pep rally,” Lorillou said.

Music and memories: all about WJ’s APRO club

Sydney Fraser, Staff Writer
May 24, 2022
Students have many options when it comes to picking elective classes. Electives provide an opportunity to focus in on interests like acting, music, astronomy or economics that arent covered in core classes

Niche electives offered at WJ

Sydney Fraser and Nishi Tripathi
March 31, 2022
Point/Counterpoint: Should high school start later?

Point/Counterpoint: Should high school start later?

Sydney Fraser and Mia Halper
March 25, 2022
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