The Plaque

Since its inception with the creation of the school, the WJ plaque has stood as a testament to the school’s history. Its bronze outline repelled even the most daring; no one with hopes of graduating must set foot on the plaque. “There was definitely hazing kind of stuff going on back in the day, for better or for worse,” class of 1989 graduate Julie Kaminisky said.

Chimney Painting

In an effort to make a mark, literally, Walter Johnson seniors would crawl up to the roof of the school to paint on the chimney stock at the beginning of every school year. The rite of passage eventually fazed out after dangers of students falling off caused administration to ban the practice. “Half of the excitement was feeling like you were doing something that wasn’t allowed,” Kaminisky said.

“It was out in the middle of nowhere. Like, the, it was all fields around it and it was like farms and cow pasture where all those IBM buildings. So, I think it was BCC. But maybe someone else will tell you a different story. That was more of a city school, like in downtown Bethesda, Chevy Chase, you know, like they, and we were sort of the country bumpkins. And so as a prank. They came and painted a cow up on the roof, basically making fun of us for being like country bumpkins. But instead of like getting mad at them about it and painting over it and like saying it was graffiti, we like embraced it with pride and took it on as an unofficial mascot,” Julie Kaminisky said.

Spirit Weeks

Weeks leading up to pep rallies or major events are continued to be marked with designated spirit days, detailing the hallways with colorful and playful costumes. The themes reflect modern trends and help bring the school together. “It’s fun to do. It’s the same reason you have themes for games and it’s fun,” senior Dan Gershon said.  “It does build school pride, you see your seniors and freshmen all wearing the same thing. I don’t see why not go for it, you know. People work hard to make it.”                            

Open Lunch

A privilege usually taken for granted by WJ students, talks of going to Giant or Starbucks for open lunch have filled WJ’s hallways for years. Hundreds of students every day make the trip out to various spots including Georgetown Square, Montgomery Mall, and Wildwood shopping center. 

The tradition started around 1974 after years of debates. 

“For years, people went to the Giant to get lunch and the parents and administration were complaining. It was right next to the football field, there was a hole in the fence so there was a big section that was open and people were going there,” class of 1977 graduate Steve Tanenbaum said. “[The PTA is] discussing this and my mom, president of the PTA, gets up and she says ‘These kids are getting to be 18, they can vote, they can go to war and you’re going to say that they can’t go right up to the Giant and get lunch?’ After that speech, nobody said a peep and we got open campus.”