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
Maeve Sanford-Kelly

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Print Managing Editor

In her second year on The Pitch, Maeve Sanford-Kelly is excited to be serving as a Print Managing Editor. Outside of The Pitch, she’s the Chair of Maryland High School Democrats and Chief of Staff for the Montgomery County Regional SGA.

All content by Maeve Sanford Kelly
Maeve Sanford-Kelly's senior reflection

Maeve Sanford-Kelly’s senior reflection

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Managing Editor
May 24, 2022

McKnight community meeting

Nicole Weaver and Maeve Sanford-Kelly
May 16, 2022
Students often feel significant pressure to succeed in academics and extracurricular activities. This stress is often exacerbated at schools like WJ that have an intense culture of competition and overachievement.

Academic competition drains students’ spirits

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Managing Editor
April 3, 2022
Students sit in the cafeteria during a study hall. Students are often sent to the cafeteria if their teacher is out with Covid because there are not enough substitutes to cover all the classes.

Staff shortages cause classroom chaos

Maeve Sanford-Kelly and Ila Gordon
February 10, 2022

State of the School: One-on-One with Principal Baker

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Jillian Ward, Josephine Meriot, Nicole Weaver and Sanir Byanjankar
February 9, 2022
Students work on an assignment using a Chromebook. Students in MCPS participated in exclusively virtual learning for most of the 2020-2021 school year.

MCPS Enrollment Drop Highlights Expanded Opportunity Gap

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Managing Editor
January 6, 2022
MCPS needs to mandate the 12-18 vaccine

MCPS needs to mandate the 12-18 vaccine

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Managing Editor
November 19, 2021
Members of WJ Chorus hold up signs while singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" during the Stand Up to Hate walkout.

Stand Up to Hate Walkout Photo Gallery

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Print Managing Editor
October 15, 2021
"It's a rendition of my coat of arms that someone made for me, and I thought it was cool so I had it printed on a mask." -Ziyi Liu, 11

The evolution of mask trends at WJ

Maeve Sanford-Kelly and Nour Faragallah
September 20, 2021
Kindergartener Sam Werfel plays on his chair as he listens to his teacher during virtual school. Focusing during online learning has been a challenge for many young students.

Virtual school provides unique challenges for young learners

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Print News Editor
June 15, 2021
Senior Hannah Sarnowski walks to her seat before the graduation ceremony begins. Graduation - held on the football field - was one of many events held to celebrate this year's senior class

Senior Activities

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Managing Editor
June 15, 2021
Graduated senior Jaidon Smith in his senior portrait. Smith and another WJ graduate were killed in a car crash on Wednesday June 9.

Two graduated seniors killed in car crash

Yuval Shachar and Maeve Sanford-Kelly
June 11, 2021
Students Olivia Herman, Sabrina Levri and Phillip Papadopulos sit outside on the bleachers during lunch. The bleachers are one of the options for places to sit during lunch. Students are expecting to sit six feet apart from one another on spots designated with tape.

WJ students share their in-person school experience

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Print News Editor
June 1, 2021
A person receives a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site in Baltimore, MD. As all Americans 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine by April 19, younger people are becoming increasingly eager for a vaccine to be approved for their age range

Underclassman wait patiently as their older peers receive COVID-19 vaccine

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Print News Editor
April 26, 2021
Student members of the Black Student Union (BSU) participate in an after school meeting over Zoom. BSU is one of multiple clubs at WJ working to amplify the voices of students of color.

How BSU and MSP have taken action towards change more than any other year

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Print News Editor
March 21, 2021
A screenshot of the message posted to the MCPS website shows the video and letter that Dr. Smith released to announce his retirement.

News blurb: Superintendent Smith to retire

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Print News Editor
January 24, 2021
A graphic posted on the Instagram of SMOB Nick Asante details the safety metrics that have to be met in order for students to return to school. Plans are being made for this return however some are skeptical that it would happen in the 2020-2021 school year.

Questions about reopening linger over second semester

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Print News Editor
January 11, 2021

WJ student killed after being hit by a car

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Print News Editor
January 7, 2021
Officer Shate Jackson, WJ’s School Resource Officer, stands outside of the school. The necessity role, along with that of the other SROs, is currently being debated by the Montgomery County Council

County debates the future of the SRO program

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Print News Editor
December 21, 2020
A tied electoral map shows a potential result that could cause the election to be sent to the US House of Representatives. An electoral college tie is among the many non-traditional election outcomes that could occur this year.

What happens if the election doesn’t go as planned?

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Print News Editor
November 2, 2020
A lab kit featuring supplies like salt, baking soda, and lab goggles sits on the counter in junior Olivia Herman's house. Some teachers have prepared lab kits for students to take home so they can complete labs from a distance.

Teachers adapt instruction to fit virtual school

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Print News Editor
October 5, 2020
Proposed Phase 2 design of the reopening of Woodward High School. The plan required a reconstruction of Tilden Middle School and the school will not officially open until 2025.

Concerns raised over Woodward’s 2025 reopening

Maeve Sanford Kelly, Special to The Pitch
November 3, 2019
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