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 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
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
Maram Faragallah

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer

Maram Faragalah is a senior at WJ. She loves writing and reading books. She is extremely excited for her first year on the pitch. During her free time she reads, watches netflix and eating. Her birthday is september 9th so she spent the first week of senior year as a 16 year old.

All content by Maram Faragallah
Extracurricular and academic ideas for every major

Extracurricular and academic ideas for every major

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
May 10, 2020
There are multiple ways to work from home over the summer!

Ways to work from home over the summer

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
April 26, 2020
Senior Elyana Furman spent some time during quarantine drawing mandalas and writing motivational quotes on them!

How to take advantage of social distancing to find yourself

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
April 26, 2020
4th wave of feminism: What's wrong now?

4th wave of feminism: What’s wrong now?

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
March 19, 2020
Why gender equality isn't achieved yet

Why gender equality isn’t achieved yet

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
March 12, 2020
How to get rid of the concept of "angry feminists"

How to get rid of the concept of “angry feminists”

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
March 10, 2020
Mistakes we make in relationships

Mistakes we make in relationships

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
March 4, 2020
267 students polled

Do parents and teens get along?

Maram Faragallah and A.J. Frattarelli
February 20, 2020
In 1916, Suffragists protest outside Woodrow Wilson's meeting in Chicago for the right for women to vote. The ratification of the 19th amendment took 72 years of non-violent protest.

100th anniversary of the 19th amendment

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
February 11, 2020
While Cinderella was a submissive woman, Elsa was a queen who saved the entire kingdom. Disney's treatment of women developed over the years to give women more rights.

Relationship Issue: Evolution of Disney movies — “man saves woman” to “woman saves the world”

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
February 11, 2020
Senior Taylor Kelly took International Relations first semester. She thought it was fun and helped her pursue her future career.

Students taking MC classes

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
January 23, 2020
Senior Lucille Bengston, President of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, and Bradley Woodside, Vice President, explain LGBTQ+ news to the club.

LGBTQ+ community embraces their diversity at WJ

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
January 15, 2020
Charly Rodriguez and Natalia Fontalvo dance the salsa dance during the Hispanic and Latin Culture Assembly. The Salsa dance originates from Cuba.

Hispanic and Latin culture assembly

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
January 8, 2020
The upcoming book sale will both offer an opportunity for SSL hours and to buy great books!

WJ used book sale

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
January 8, 2020
A Christmas tree for the Holidays!

How do you spend your holidays?

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
January 1, 2020
The Minority Scholars Program will be volunteering on Martin Luther King Service Day!

Martin Luther King Jr. service day

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
December 19, 2019
WJ Parents and the Administration meet up again to report what happened last month and how we could improve in the December 6th CAC meeting.

Student representatives we don’t know about

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
December 15, 2019
Mackenzie DeCraeve, Patrick Ibanez and Mary Ibanez attended their first student-teacher basketball game. They all really enjoyed the game and planned to come to future WJ events.

17 things you should do before you graduate high school

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
December 15, 2019
Women in the Solomon Islands march in parade for 16 days of activism against gender based violence.

16 days of activism against gender-based aggression

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
December 6, 2019
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to go out and participate in community service activities. The Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade is one opportunity WJ students are encouraged to get involved with.

Upcoming SSL opportunities for WJ students!

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
November 23, 2019
Homecoming Questionnaire

Homecoming Questionnaire

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
November 3, 2019
"I’m supposed to be an archer but we’re not allowed to bring weapons to school."- Xinny Lao

WJ’s Halloween costumes for 2019

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
November 3, 2019
Comic by Bradley Woodside

The Good Place shoots us in the conscience

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
October 29, 2019
Senior Rose Knapp traveled to France and Italy over the summer. She enjoyed cruises, parks and hot coffee because they didn't have iced.

WJ students pursue summer internships and travel

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
October 7, 2019
Senior Yerim Kone and Junior Graciela Lune discuss equal representation ideas for a more diverse WJ.

Students fight for representation

Maram Faragallah, Staff Writer
September 28, 2019
Load More Stories
Donate to The Pitch
$356
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal