The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

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The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Maya Panicker

Maya Panicker, Print Editor-in-Chief

Senior Maya Panicker is thrilled for her second year on The Pitch as a Print Editor-in-Chief. In addition to writing articles, she enjoys playing soccer and listening to music 24/7.

All content by Maya Panicker
Moving the school year forward by a few weeks, although unfavorable to some, will make winter break the halfway point in the school year and end the school year closer to the end of AP exams. This will allow students greater relaxation over winter break and will give them more time to prepare for AP exams.

Pushing the school year weeks earlier will benefit students

Maya Panicker, Print Editor-in-Chief
Dec 13, 2024
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

Maya Panicker, Print Editor-in-Chief
Nov 15, 2024

Rodman earns UChicago Outstanding Educator award

Maya Panicker and Seyun Park
Nov 15, 2024
Kura Sushi's revolving conveyor belt rotates a variety of sushi and nigiri. Meanwhile, the tablet above the table played a cartoon video urging guests to feed their empty plates into the table slot.

New Rockville revolving sushi spot offers one-of-a-kind experience

Maya Panicker, Print Editor-in-Chief
Nov 7, 2024
Parking permits were handed out on the second week of school and should be hung in all cars parked in WJ’s student lot for the rest of the semester. Students who don’t display these permits will be ticketed and fined.

Seniors air grievances over parking permit lottery

Maya Panicker, Print Editor-in-Chief
Sep 15, 2024
ASL 2 students on the Gallaudet field trip watch their tour guide explain the life of the university’s founder, Laurent Clerc, pictured in the statue to the guide’s left. The tour guide signed in ASL throughout the tour and an interpreter translated his signs into English.

High school field trips benefit students and learning alike

Maya Panicker, Print Editor-In-Chief
Jun 10, 2024
New MISA policy impacts freshmen grades

New MISA policy impacts freshmen grades

Maya Panicker, Print Editor-in-Chief
May 24, 2024
Wootton, Einstein troubled with multiple violent threats

Wootton, Einstein troubled with multiple violent threats

Maya Panicker, Print News Editor
Apr 26, 2024
The class scheduling process is long and strenuous for MCPS administrators, consuming almost nine months out of the year. Although a lot of the work is done at the beginning of the calendar year, several changes in staffing and budgeting occur all the way up until the first day of school.

Why you might not get the classes you want next year: an inside look at the class scheduling process

Maya Panicker, Print News Editor
Apr 26, 2024
David Nicholls produces the 14 episode Netflix romantic drama "One Day" based on his 2009 book of the same name. The story follows Emma and Dexter on "One Day" of each year from 1988 to 2007, capturing a turbulent 19 year love story.

“One Day” is the best love story of 2024 so far

Maya Panicker, Print News Editor
Apr 26, 2024
Students listen to Gallaudet University tour. The tour was given by a deaf senior who currently attends Gallaudet.

ASL immersed in deaf community at Gallaudet University

Abby Kee, Senior News Editor
Apr 26, 2024
Alec Latifov (middle) watches WJ girls varsity soccer battle Whitman in their 2022 regular season conference match. He stood alongside former head coach Joshua Kinnetz (left) and current assistant coach Fumie Takahashi (right) in his 27th season with WJ girls soccer.

Police officer by night, soccer coach by day: girls soccer assistant serves WJ community for 30 years

Maya Panicker, Print News Editor
Mar 8, 2024
WJ SNHS celebrates their holiday induction party with science themed treats. "One group arranged fruit bites in the shape of different chemical bonds while another group made a 'dirt cake' into a soil profile complete with gummy worms. Another student arranged sprinkles on sugar cookies to represent phases of mitosis. All of it was a little geeky, but in a good and fun way," SNHS sponsor and Physics teacher Michael Willard said.

SNHS returns to WJ

Maya Panicker, Print News Editor
Feb 2, 2024
Science Olympiad - Neb Mammo

Academic All-Stars: Students shine in club competition

Elli Karistinou, Sara Elster, Abby Kee, Geetanjali Raju and Maya Panicker
Feb 2, 2024
Ukrainian club vice president junior Marina Preslopsky dedicates her free time to Hopak, a traditional Ukrainian dance style. After touching on some different elements of Ukrainian culture at the first meeting, Preslopsky hopes to talk more about Hopak and traditional Ukrainian music and dance at future meetings.

Ukrainian club forms to raise educate, volunteer

Maya Panicker, Print News Editor
Dec 15, 2023
AP Biology and Environmental science students examine crabs after net fishing in the Chesapeake Bay in 2018. Students will continue the WJ legacy of Chesapeake Bay field trips with their visit to Smith Island from Nov. 19 to 21.

AP Bio, APES students ready to get down and dirty

Maya Panicker, Print News Editor
Nov 10, 2023
Protesters crowd the streets in support of the WGA strike against Hollywood studios. This is the eight time in the guild's 90 year history that they have decided to go on strike.

The Hollywood writers strike is over: so what?

Maya Panicker, Print News Editor
Oct 20, 2023
Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass addresses the anti-hate task force in their first meeting. He was elected to serve on the council in 2018 and since then has been a major advocate of social justice and environmental issues.

Montgomery County Council launches anti-hate task force

Maya Panicker, Print News Editor
Sep 15, 2023
Fourth of July fireworks illuminate the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.

Staycation? Here’s what you can do in D.C. this summer

Maya Panicker, Print News Editor
Jun 16, 2023
The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) established the National Suicide Prevention Line in 2005. The destigmatization of mental health over the years has dramatically increased the number of callers since 2005.

Maryland allocates $12 million in funding for 988 hotline

Maya Panicker, Print News Editor
May 22, 2023
School Social Worker Caroline Kennedy speaks with Pupil Personnel Worker Valerie Toole. A key part of Kennedy's job is communicating with students and staff. Kenndey has sought to build relationships with her co-workers and students.

Social Worker hired to assist with mental health issues

Maya Panicker, Special to The Pitch
Oct 25, 2022
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