The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Junior club treasurer Lily Bienfang unlocks the equipment collection bin. As of April 2024, the WJ LPF club became the bin ambassador for the Falls Road bin.
WJ LPF club levels the playing field
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
The college and career center there are many pamphlets on college information and SAT/ACT prep. Within the center is Mrs. Evans' office, she can help answer some questions one may have about the next steps
The benefits of college visits
Junior club treasurer Lily Bienfang unlocks the equipment collection bin. As of April 2024, the WJ LPF club became the bin ambassador for the Falls Road bin.
WJ LPF club levels the playing field
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
Students give their thoughts on the fall play
Students give their thoughts on the fall play
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 reused via Fair Use)
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
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 Grant Levins sprints down the track. "I'm here to try out because I love the sport of track and field and I'm working on my 800 [meter] time. Just trying to get better," Levins said.
Photo Gallery: Friday winter track tryouts
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
Washington Capitals captain and forward Alex Ovechkin tracks the puck while Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram skates behind him getting ready to defend. Both teams are competing for playoff spots this season. (Courtesy Brian Murphy via Wikimedia Commons)
WJ hockey players discuss Capitals’ strong start
Students give their thoughts on the fall play
Students give their thoughts on the fall play
ASL 2 students eat at Mozzeria, a deaf- owned restraunt. Students practiced their signing with the deaf employees to order their food and drinks.
Photo Gallery: ASL Gallaudet Field Trip
Junior Grant Levins sprints down the track. "I'm here to try out because I love the sport of track and field and I'm working on my 800 [meter] time. Just trying to get better," Levins said.
Photo Gallery: Friday winter track tryouts
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
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Cora Flynn

Cora Flynn, Print Feature Editor

Cora Flynn is a senior and in her second year on the Pitch. Aside from writing for the Pitch, Cora spends her time running, making art and hanging out with her dogs.

All content by Cora Flynn
Senior Rafael Isea (back row) poses with other business students in the MC Early College Program on May 5, their last day of classes. Isea credits a lot to the program in helping him develop his interests. "I feel like I have grown a lot in early college. I have really matured and refined my skills to be better prepared for what I want to do in the future regarding finance because I have cultivated networking and just interpersonal skills," Isea said.

The early college program; finance, computer science and bloody surgeries

Cora Flynn, Print Feature Editor
May 20, 2022
Netflix's Heartstopper debuted on April 22. The show is based on the graphic novel series by Alice Oseman and follows several LGBTQ+ high school students.

Heartstopper: a love letter to LGBTQ+ youth

Cora Flynn, Print Feature Editor
May 4, 2022
Eating disorders plague Generation Z

Eating disorders plague Generation Z

Cora Flynn, Print Feature Editor
Apr 2, 2022
Sophomore Harry Resnik poses with his long distance girlfriend Maeve O'Dell on Jan 21. Self-care has been an important part of maintaining their 14 month long relationship. “Being in a relationship can be both helpful and harmful for self care in some situations. On the one hand it’s nice to be able to choose to have someone who’s there to support you or comfort you, but sometimes things are easier without as much engagement,” Resnik said.

Romance and self care: Students discuss managing self-care within romantic relationships

Cora Flynn
Feb 11, 2022
From right to left: Madeline Chung, Erin Gardiner, Jillian Ward, and Sinead Longsworth are overcome with second semester senioritis in their 4th period Leadership class on Feb 2. Symptoms of senioritis typically include a lack of motivation and for Longsworth, sleeping in class.

Senioritis strikes again, snatching students’ spirits

Cora Flynn, Print Feature Editor
Feb 10, 2022
On Oct. 2, volunteers came to help create a virtual map of the 600,000 white flags representing Americans who died from Covid. A group of volunteers came from WJ led by ceramics teacher Stephanie Ellis.

Art exhibit volunteers help country heal

Cora Flynn, Print Feature Editor
Nov 16, 2021
Leadership students prepare for class and more Homecoming dance planning on Oct. 1. The Oct. 9 dance has been adapted to be more COVID safe; however, some of these changes have concerned students who worry about the quality of the experience.

Students adjust to Homecoming changes

Cora Flynn, Print Feature Editor
Oct 7, 2021
Social studies teacher Nicole McCarn teaches her second period AP Psychology class on Sept. 15. Like many of her colleagues during the first week of school, McCarn offered her students a chance to write their pronouns and preferred name on a name cards on their desks. This was part of the MCPS push to provide transgender and nonbinary students an easier way to come out to teachers.

Students react to teachers asking for pronouns

Cora Flynn, Print Feature Editor
Sep 21, 2021
Junior Fiona Miller views her classes in dashboard view for MCPS Canvas at her desk on May 15. Like a majority of her peers, Miller has been online for the whole year will be finishing up her junior year online. Juniors have faced unique challenges during the online year because of the specific pressures of junior year.

Virtually impossible: juniors reflect on completing the hardest year of high school online

Cora Flynn, Staff Writer
Jun 1, 2021
There are many YA books with LGBTQ+ lead characters out there, if you know where to look. A classic of the genre is "Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli.

Six LGBTQ+ books to read for Pride

Cora Flynn, Staff Writer
May 25, 2021
Liann Keren collects early donations on Saturday, March 20. She will be hosting a donation drive for Lucky Dog Animal Shelter to support animals who have been suffering during the pandemic.

Local nonprofit provides unique leadership opportunities for WJ girls

Cora Flynn, Staff Writer
Apr 7, 2021
The Netflix musical comedy series "Julie and the Phantoms" covers deep topics of grief and loss while also providing a much needed break to audiences.

Julie and the Phantoms: a ‘Bright’ spot in a difficult time

Cora Flynn, Staff Writer
Mar 8, 2021
Learning how to drive has become even more difficult and complicated with the pandemic. Students have to adjust to new rules and procedures for safety, like wearing masks during the driving skills test.

A detailed guide on how to get a driver’s license during the pandemic

Cora Flynn, Staff Writer
Feb 6, 2021
WJ students react to J.K. Rowling's transphobia

WJ students react to J.K. Rowling’s transphobia

Cora Flynn, Staff Writer
Dec 30, 2020
Senior Rakeb Hailemariam watches an episode of the new 17th season of "Grey's Anatomy" on Friday, December 4. The new season includes COVID-19 story lines, a choice that concerned some "Grey's" fans at first.

A McDream: Grey’s Anatomy returns to TV amidst the pandemic

Cora Flynn, Staff Writer
Dec 15, 2020
Freshman Rachael Wolfson starts her first day of high school from home on August 31. WJ freshmen have had to adapt to not only online classes, but also being in a brand new school.

Freshmen cope with an unprecedented first year

Cora Flynn, Staff Writer
Nov 9, 2020
WJ class of 2020 alumni Atticus Goodenow takes notes for his online class from home. This is Goodenow's first year at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and he opted to take classes from home because of COVID-19.

College in the time of corona

Cora Flynn, Staff Writer
Sep 30, 2020
Senior Ellie Flynn cuts brother Charlie Flynn’s hair on Friday, June 5. This was Flynn’s second time giving a haircut. 

How WJ students are tackling at-home haircuts

Cora Flynn, Special to The Pitch
Jun 12, 2020
How the gluten-free trend jeopardizes health

How the gluten-free trend jeopardizes health

Cora Flynn, Special to The Pitch
Feb 15, 2020
Senior Zoe Philips, who has suffered from a severe tree nut allergy all her life, does her best not to let it stop her from living a normal life.

Students deal with food restrictions

Einav Tsach and Cora Flynn
Feb 15, 2020
Load More Stories
Donate to The Pitch
$356
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal