The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
WJ Food4All serves community
WJ Food4All serves community
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.
A look at the winners of the Board of Education elections
NAHS brushes up creative murals
NAHS brushes up creative murals
Social studies teacher Mitchell Joy analyzes an AP World student's work using the timeline feature in the Brisk program. Brisk allows educators to see students type each word, making it much easier for teachers to ensure that students do not use AI or other students' work to cheat.
New academic integrity systems strengthen WJ grading system
With phase I of construction completed, Woodward High School now accommodates Northwood students. Phase II and III of the project have yet to be started, and will likely incorporate the construction of an athletics field and auditorium. (Courtesy MCPS)
MCPS miscalculation leads to $39 million construction deficit
(Courtesy Maryland GovPics - The Celebration of Maryland Black Excellence Reception via Wikimedia)
Alsobrooks wins major fight for Senate seat
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
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
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
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
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
A family happily enjoys a holiday meal together, with all the members seemingly enjoying themselves except for the only child in the image. We all know what she's going through and wish we had something-anything to talk to our extended family about.
No politics, just pie: seasonal dinner table topics
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
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
Vijay Kannen (11), Bertie Bennett (11), Theo Hansen (11) and Idan Tzioni (12) pose for a photo at the Junior's Homecoming Hallway. Their performance caused a traffic jam as students stopped to listen to the music. (Courtesy Paul Gomes)
Jazz quartet reaches for the high notes
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
Opening night's narrators, juniors Yuri Sternberg and Sasha Rotton, turn to watch as a wave of confetti is dropped onto the stage. The performance was unusually colorful, complementing its chaotic nature. "I’m really proud of the cast and the way we were able to come together and work towards putting on the show,” Rotton said.
STAGE salvages ‘Grimm’ choice of play
Backstage with WJ STAGE
Backstage with WJ STAGE
President-elect Donald Trump speaks to a crowd at a 2024 Arizona rally. Trump swept all seven swing states and won the popular vote en route to a victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. (Courtesy Gage Skidmore via Flickr)
Alienating Trump voters is counterproductive
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?
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
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
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
Common slang ranked from best to worst
Common slang ranked from best to worst
Junior WR Corey Dooren checks with the referee that he is on the line of scrimmage. Dooren helped step up throughout the Wildcat's season and will continue to step up as he matures into a senior next year.
Panthers pounce Wildcats, ending football season
Day in the life of a student-athlete
Day in the life of a student-athlete
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
Captain Patrick Murphy skates past a defender on a race to the puck. Murphy's defense was a huge contributor in the 1-9 win against Blair.
Icecats breakaway to 4-0 after win against Blair
The cheer squad struts to the floor to start their routine for regionals on Nov. 2 at Harford Community College. The team spent weeks working on their routine and were proud to get the chance to perform it at regionals. “Stepping on to the mat at regionals, I felt really nervous, but I was also very excited because I wanted to show the judges all the hard work we put into the routine,” junior Lyla Cho said. (Courtesy Candice Nsoga-Mahob)
Cheer closes season, scores 4th at regionals
Seniors Ellie Weinstein, Rhea Noumair, Naamiah Corke, and Natalie Annulis celebrate Weinstein's first touchdown of the game.
Girls’ flag football falls to Whitman in playoffs
Day in the life of a student-athlete
Day in the life of a student-athlete
ESOL hosts pumpkin carving event
ESOL hosts pumpkin carving event
Opening night's narrators, juniors Yuri Sternberg and Sasha Rotton, turn to watch as a wave of confetti is dropped onto the stage. The performance was unusually colorful, complementing its chaotic nature. "I’m really proud of the cast and the way we were able to come together and work towards putting on the show,” Rotton said.
STAGE salvages ‘Grimm’ choice of play
Support staff of WJ
Support staff of WJ
Backstage with WJ STAGE
Backstage with WJ STAGE
Homecoming hallways walkthrough
Homecoming hallways walkthrough
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Alexander Lewton

Alexander Lewton, Print News Editor

Alexander is a Print News Editor for the Pitch. He is a senior and in his free time he enjoys reading, hiking, and playing the piano.
All content by Alexander Lewton
A graphic released by Nintendo displays the world of "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom." The game expands to the skies above Hyrule while also revisiting familiar regions down below.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Review

Alexander Lewton, Print News Editor
June 6, 2023
Alex Lewton's senior reflection

Alex Lewton’s senior reflection

Alexander Lewton, Print News Editor
May 24, 2023
Pedro Pascal attends San Diego Comic Con in 2014. The third season has the first new episodes of The Mandalorian released since 2020, and continues from the events of the spin off show The Book of Boba Fett.

The Mandalorian’s season 3 mid-season review: dazzling tale lacks depth, direction

Alexander Lewton, Print News Editor
March 29, 2023
Point/Counterpoint: Students should be allowed to request teachers

Point/Counterpoint: Students should be allowed to request teachers

Cecilia Saltzman and Alexander Lewton
March 7, 2023
Mrs. Butler teaches the Advanced Choir a section of a new song.

An inside glimpse at the teachers of WJ Music

Alexander Lewton and Matthew Ashman
March 1, 2023
Model UN President senior Max Turnacioglu explains the various aspects of participating in a conference during a club meeting. The club is excited for a return to an in person conference format this year following a long period of virtual conferences.

Academic Clubs February Recap

Seyun Park and Alexander Lewton
February 28, 2023
Former Maryland lawmaker Dan Cox attends a campaign event during his gubernatorial campaign. Cox, a far-right Republican who took very conservative policy positions on the main issues of the race, ultimately performed historically poorly against Democratic candidate Wes Moore.

The Republican party has a Maryland problem

Alexander Lewton, Print News Editor
January 26, 2023
Superintendent Monifa McKnight and Principal Jennifer Baker pose for a photo outside of the college and career center. McKnight visited WJ friday to talk about AP and IB classes. One of McKnight's budget proposals is to eliminate all fees for taking AP and IB exams.

Superintendent McKnight visits WJ

Alexander Lewton and Seyun Park
January 9, 2023
"Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" writer, director and producer Rian Johnson attends a red carpet movie premiere. Johnson was contracted to create a second and third film in the mystery franchise after Netflix purchased the rights to the series in 2021.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery review

Alexander Lewton, Print News Editor
December 14, 2022
Main office secretary Natalie Britton works at her desk during lunch. Secretary Britton supervises the class coverage program, which has evolved in recent years to reflect difficulties in staff procurement as a result of changes in the hiring labor.

MCPS strives to overcome staff shortages

Ely Snow and Alexander Lewton
December 13, 2022
Governor-elect Wes Moore takes questions at an event in 2014. Moore made history on Tuesday, Nov. 8 as the first African American governor to be elected in the state of Maryland.

Maryland voters favor normalcy in historic midterm elections

Alexander Lewton, Print News Editor
November 17, 2022
President Joe Biden shakes hands with Maryland Gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore during an event over the summer at Richard Montgomery High School. As the midterms draw closer, national figureheads of both parties have embarked on the campaign trail to buoy their chances of winning races with razor-thin margins across the country.

Midterm elections kindle hope, anxiety

Alexander Lewton, Print News Editor
November 4, 2022
Cruz's cars sit in the garage, which had its roof ripped off in the storm. His house was one of hundreds of thousands of homes on the island that were damaged or destroyed by the hurricane.

WJ’s newest technology teacher recounts experience with extreme weather

Alexander Lewton, Print News Editor
October 31, 2022
Students pass by the College and Career Center on their way back from lunch. As seniors gear up for the college application process, the critical decision of how many schools to apply to can play a significant role in determining both the magnitude of their workload and the number of colleges they will be able to choose from.

In defense of applying to a lot of schools

Alexander Lewton, Print News Editor
September 22, 2022
Freshman Travis Schultz and Charlotte Austegard display their IDs during lunch. As an increased security measure, administration has asked students to wear IDs while they are at school.

New policies headline new school year

Alexander Lewton, Seyun Park and Sourish Dey
September 20, 2022

Cryptogram – Word Puzzle

Alexander Lewton
June 15, 2022
Fans and Players alike prepare for a patriotic celebration before the 2018 Pro Bowl game. The NFL is reportedly considering canceling the Pro Bowl game due to a myriad of issues that have plagued the annual event for years.

It’s time for the NFL to eliminate the Pro Bowl game

Alexander Lewton, Staff Writer
June 14, 2022
Senior Pearly Gal-Edd discusses an essay grade with Italian teacher Maria Cavallini. As the number of students requesting grade adjustments spiked towards the end of the last marking period, teachers have stressed that building a strong rapport through consistent contact goes a long way to having their requests fulfilled.

Students’ requests for grade adjustments frustrate teachers

Alexander Lewton, Staff Writer
May 24, 2022
The jazz ensemble warms up individually to prepare for a productive playing session. Music teacher Christopher Kosmaceski emphasized how the peculiar origins of jazz contribute to its highly unique style. “The history of jazz is unique, and in that relatively short period of time of history there are still many variations. Jazz is still evolving from swing to the latin styles, to bebop, to fusion, to even elements of hip-hop, and the blues. I mean there’s a lot there, and that’s in just a really short amount of time. So there’s a lot to cover, at least try to make students aware of,” Kosmaceski said.

Meet WJ’s Jazz Ensemble

Alexander Lewton, Staff Writer
May 20, 2022
A number of extracurricular activities and educational opportunities are on display outside the counselor's office. Students often feel great pressure to participate in one or more of them in order to strengthen their college application.

SAT difficulties highlight teachers’ responsibilities

Alexander Lewton, Staff Writer
April 26, 2022
Students take care to properly mask in order to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the hallways. The issue of what public health guidelines the county should enforce has caused great debate in recent weeks.

To mask or not to mask?

Alexander Lewton, Staff Writer
March 3, 2022
As the threat of climate change has become increasingly prevalent in the minds of citizens in recent years, nuclear power has become an increasingly attractive energy source. However, concerns about the effect of development in local communities have stifled any potential construction.

Sensibly Choosing the Nuclear Option

Alexander Lewton, Staff Writer
February 18, 2022
Justice Stephen Breyer discusses his then recently released book on modern American law at the Brookings Institute on Jan 21, 2016. While many are sad to see the unique voice he has had on the bench disappear, students are excited about the opportunity for the court’s demographics to become more akin to that of the US as a whole.

Students See Opportunity for Equity in Justice Breyer’s Retirement

Alexander Lewton, Staff Writer
February 15, 2022
One of the many waste receptacles found adorning the halls of WJ. Awareness of ecological issues has become a topic of growing concern in recent years.

Student body goes green

Alexander Lewton, Special to the Pitch
December 17, 2021
Load More Stories
Donate to The Pitch
$356
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal