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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

The WJ Baby is held up for a photo by one of its fans during a football game in 2021. Unfortunately, the baby was only able to attend one football game this season before being incarcerated. (Courtesy WJ Baby)
Free the WJ Baby
November 15, 2024
Latest in Print
Meet the Staff
Shae McCloskey
Shae McCloskey
Print Feature Editor

Shae McCloskey is a senior and is so excited for her third year on The Pitch as a Print Feature Editor. Outside of The Pitch, Shae enjoys playing field hockey and lacrosse.

WJ Food4All serves community
WJ Food4All serves community
Gianna Granados, Special to The Pitch • November 18, 2024
NAHS brushes up creative murals
NAHS brushes up creative murals
Cleo Al Rasheed, Special to The Pitch • November 15, 2024
(Courtesy Maryland GovPics - The Celebration of Maryland Black Excellence Reception via Wikimedia)
Alsobrooks wins major fight for Senate seat
Ivan Duchkov, Staff Writer • November 15, 2024
Paper Bridges letter drive to be set in December
Paper Bridges letter drive to be set in December
Rebecca Dodek, Special to The Pitch • November 15, 2024
Upcoming Games
WJ HS
Richard Montgomery HS
Dec 6 /7:15 PM / Boys Basketball
WJ HS
Richard Montgomery HS
Dec 6 /7:15 PM / Girls Basketball
WJ HS
Kennedy High School
Dec 10 /7:15 PM / Boys Basketball
WJ HS
Kennedy High School
Dec 10 /7:15 PM / Girls Basketball
WJ HS
Damascus High School
Dec 13 /7:15 PM / Boys Basketball
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Listen to the Change-up
A group of Israelis in the community rally together on Montrose Bridge. They decided to gather together around 6:30 a.m., marking the exact one-year anniversary of the war. (Courtesy Liann Keren)
Oct. 7: the impacts one year later
Michal Shmaya and Maayan Keren November 18, 2024
Two friends play video games together through their TVs. They met through social media, and have become best friends since thanks to the internet. Without it, their friendship wouldn't have been possible, as it is the case for many real life relationships.
How social media has changed relationships
Sabrina Solares, Online Feature Editor • November 15, 2024
AP Calculus teacher Rachel Zussman works on finishing up her grades prior to the end of the quarter. With many teachers wanting change in the MCPS pay system, a performance-based pay system is an intriguing idea.
Teachers reflect on performance-based pay system
Jonathan Bahat, Print Opinion Editor • November 15, 2024
Senior Mwape Sokoni (middle), junior Daniella Ngah (right) and senior Michelle Lett (left) practice a routine in the cafeteria. Step Team practices diligently, performing the routine until the entire group catches on.
A force for good: Mwape Sokoni’s social impact on WJ
Billie Lieber, Podcast Editor • November 15, 2024
Club president Sadie Morgenstern and treasurer Brady Chan embrace in a hug with his younger brother, Ryder, at the annual friendship walk last year. “The walk is a fun way to interact with people from other schools and everyone seems to really enjoy it,” Chan said.
Generational friendship: Best Buddies between siblings
Aviva Katz, Copy Editor • November 15, 2024
Ariana Grande as Ghilda whispering in Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba's ear. A fan edit of this poster caused controversy with Cynthia Erivo. (Courtesy Universal Pictures)
Wicked movie promotion causes mixed reactions
Vania Charo, Online A&E Editor • 10:58 am
A group of kindergarteners sit on the carpet listening to their teacher tell them about the months of the year. Teenagers feel nostalgia when remembering how they used to sit on the carpet in elementary school.
(Courtesy woodleywonderworks via Wikimedia Commons)
What nostalgia means to teenagers
Olivia Stokes, Print A&E Editor • November 15, 2024
Pep Band plays a song at a home fall football game. "I think pep band is for people that want to go to football games a lot and maybe don't have people to go. It's a place to have fun with a lot of friends," pep band captain senior Theo Hansen said.
Putting the pep in WJ’s step: pep band rallies “juice,” builds community
Maya Panicker, Print Editor-in-Chief • November 15, 2024
Backstage with WJ STAGE
Backstage with WJ STAGE
Kaina Sy-Savane, Film Editor • November 6, 2024
Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez (left) play Erik and Lyle Menendez (right) in "Monsters." Both images feature the brothers at trial, following their murder of their parents after enduring year of trauma and abuse at the hands of their father. (Courtesy Netflix used via fair use)
The controversy behind the hit Netflix show ‘Monsters’
Isabella Suarez, Social Media/Marketing • November 1, 2024
The college application process is stressful for all seniors; many students work their way up the grades with stacked extracurriculars. However, student-athletes seem to be favored more than "regular" applicants. (Courtesy Empowerly)
Student-athlete or part-time worker; which weighs more?
Rhea Noumair, Online Editor-in-Chief and Illustrator • November 16, 2024
Senior Ginger Fishberg defends the ball against an opposing player during a varsity girls' soccer game against Blair. Despite her obvious athleticism, as well as that of other varsity athletes, she is still required to take a full year of Physical Education to earn the credit. (Courtesy Lifetouch)
Varsity athletics should count as a gym credit
Elizabeth Finn, Print Managing Editor • November 15, 2024
Almost every student takes the ACT or SAT and many take both. Preparation outside of school often correlates with high scores. (Courtesy Citrus County School District)
ACT/SAT prep should be accessible in class
Madeleine Simmons, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Editor • November 15, 2024
Common slang ranked from best to worst
Common slang ranked from best to worst
Baron Thompson, Staff Writer • November 15, 2024
A student tiredly walks down a hallway after a school day. Many students feel drained after a day of school, but is WJ the problem?
Is the school the problem? The case for WJ
William Murphy, Print Sports Editor • November 15, 2024
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