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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
Mia Magone

Mia Magone, Business Manager

Senior Mia Magone is excited for her third year as the Business manager on The Pitch. In her free time, she enjoys reading, painting, and listening to music.

All content by Mia Magone
Homeroom is the shortest class of the day, making it difficult to work on any assignment in the brief class period. To fit the 10 minute homeroom into the class schedule, 20 minutes are taken away from lunch. (Courtesy Rawpixel)

Homeroom is unnecessary, harmful to student wellness

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Mar 24, 2025
KPRO members pose for a group photo after their Hallyu performance. They started practicing two months before the performance, and met up one per week for two hours to practice all together. "We all put in so much effort, and I am so grateful for those who came and supported us," senior Vice President Alexis Batac said.

K-pop dance team performs at Hallyu showcase

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Mar 22, 2025

Spring Sports Preview: Girls’ Tennis

Mar 20, 2025
Point/Counterpoint: Are WJ students overinvolved in APs?

Point/Counterpoint: Are WJ students overinvolved in APs?

Mia Magone and Ivan Duchkov
Mar 9, 2025
Frederick Delello lectures his fourth period Advanced Placement Government class on the executive branch on Jan. 27. Delello is retiring this year and still pushes his students to do their best. "He pushes us a lot with pretty harsh grading on things like concept cards and assignments, especially at the beginning of the year to get people to understand what they can achieve," freshman Abby Keehn said. “It gets people who aren’t as good to understand their full ability and I feel like that’s really great."

Delello announces retirement after 20 years at WJ

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Jan 31, 2025
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

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Nov 15, 2024
The WJ Cheer squad poses with the Quince Orchard cheer squad and the Churchill cheer squad after the Invitational on Oct. 9. The WJ squad scored the highest in WJ history in the pyramid category in difficulty and execution. (Courtesy Holly Siegel)

Cheer breaks records at invitational, prepares for counties

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Oct 25, 2024
The team completes a breathtaking stunt in a pyramid. The high-risk nature of Cheer is always something for the athletes to keep in mind. "Cheerleading is very, very, hard," head coach Vanessa Barnes said. It's one of the most dangerous sports. A lot of people don't know that because it's overlooked, but it is very difficult. Any minute, someone can be dropped from all the way up in the air. That's probably one of the things I would think people need to know about cheerleading."

Photo Gallery: Cheer’s Varsity Showcase

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Oct 10, 2024
Varsity cheer drills their routine on Tuesday, Sept. 24 to prepare for their Invitational at Long Reach High School on Oct. 9. The team has been working on sharpening their technique since the start of the season. “I would say everyone is striving to be better and to get what they have to get," Head Coach Vanessa Barnes said. "A lot of them are pushing themselves to get where they need to go."

Cheer jumps into preparation for their first seasonal Invitational

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Oct 4, 2024
Computer science teacher Mike Livermore addresses a student's raised hand in the 4th period class on Sept. 9. This is Livermore's first year teaching at WJ. "I've taught adults and I've taught young ones, but I've never taught at a public school at any level, only small private schools," Livermore said.

Mike Livermore joins computer science department

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Sep 17, 2024
From left: Junior Honorary officer Skylar Zheng, junior Secretary Alexis Batac, junior President Sareen Papangelou. The officers of the Southeast Asian Union pose in front of a mural in the school. The club will join the school roster for the 2024-2025 school year, and all are welcome.

Southeast Asian Union to bring region’s culture, food to WJ

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Jun 12, 2024
The College Board offers 39 distinct Advanced Placement courses for students to take. Scores in the final exam of each class, taken in May, can be potentially transferred as college credit depending on the score and the policy of the receiving university. (Courtesy The Echo)

How to celebrate finishing AP exams

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Jun 4, 2024
Seniors explore benefits, drawbacks of gap years

Seniors explore benefits, drawbacks of gap years

Mia Magone, Business Manager
May 28, 2024
Members of APRO practice for the Hallyu Showcase on Wednesday, March 14. They spent months working on their routines, and are prepared to perform in the showcase. Math and resource teacher and APRO sponsor Linda O'Reilly notes the teams effort. "I'm incredibly proud of this group. They have tremendous discipline and talent, and above all, a sense of inclusion and mentorship for everyone within the group," O'Reilly said.

APRO to perform at annual Hallyu Showcase on March 15

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Mar 14, 2024
Students deliver a powerful rendition of the poem "I Am a Black Girl" by April Chukwueke during the assembly on Feb. 23.

BSU celebrates Black History Month with assembly showcasing America through the Black lens

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Mar 5, 2024
Attendance secretary Leslie Albershardt writes a pass for a student to go to 5th period on Friday, Jan. 26. Albershardt describes her hopes for the updated attendance policy taking action January 30. “If you are 23 minutes late, you are marked absent. Anything under that time you are tardy unexcused. My hope is that teachers will adhere to that and that parents will also understand," Albershardt said.

Attendance and grading policy changes take action second semester

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Feb 2, 2024
Students pose for a photo outside the Vatican during the 2017 spring break trip to Switzerland and Italy. Visiting historic monuments and architecture was one of the trip's many planned attractions.

Annual spring break trip to London, Scotland to be held for the first time since the pandemic

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Feb 2, 2024
The three daughters of King Lear, Goneril, played by Mia Reid (left), Regan, played by Beatriz Cardoso Lapa (center) and Cordelia, played by Petra Lacayo-Chamorro perform on the second night of "King Lear."

STAGE brings Shakespeare to students with timeless showing of “King Lear”

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Dec 15, 2023
Bake with Kindness holds a meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 7 to discuss their upcoming fundraising bake sale. They offered delicious homemade cookies to the members who attended.

Bake with Kindness, LeadHer to host bake sale in support of girl’s access to education

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Nov 16, 2023
Students wear pink to cheer on their team for the Wildcats vs Blazers Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 6. The student section was filled with triumphant screams as the Wildcats earned their sixth win of the season.

Football themes channel team spirit, connect fans to games

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Oct 20, 2023
Link Generations Club holds an interest meeting on Wednesday, September 20. The club officers, Junior President Sophie Amalyan, Junior Vice President Bella Rose, Junior Secretary Nadeen Orabi and Junior Treasurer Carissa Chen presented in front of the group about the club's purpose and how it will operate, including how members should fill out the form for SSL hours.

Link Generations Club strives to close the gap between youths, senior citizens

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Sep 28, 2023
WJ Crew club celebrates the end of their year with an End of The Year Picnic at Cabin John Regional Park. The graduating seniors are both sad for leaving the underclassmen but also excited for their futures beyond highschool. The seniors (top row Baxter Roberts, Robert Hsu, Ethan Nguyen, Ian Shin, Alex Isaac, Nate Henderson, Antoine Fradet, Ryan Frank, (bottom row), Ava Rohatgi, Haley Minnick, and Maggie Berrett all lined up the spoon of a WJ oar as their final gift. "I'm going to miss all my senior and underclassmen friends. I really wish for the younger atheletes to spend their times in WJ Crew with no regrets," Berrett said.

Up-At-Bat – Clubs’ final meetings

Mia Magone and Michelle Kim
Jun 12, 2023
Graduating senior Olivia Profit receives her tassels during the senior ceremony. Profit plans to attend the University of Virginia and major in neuroscience.

Photo Gallery: BSU hosts senior ceremony block party

Mia Magone, Business Manager
May 22, 2023
The BSU plans for the assembly on December 19, 2022. The assembly took place on February 24, 2023, and was one of the BSU's major accomplishments this school year.

BSU to host Block party on May 12 to celebrate seniors, fundraise for next year

Mia Magone, Business Manager
May 5, 2023
From left: senior Tatiana Vasquez, senior Rachel Bahn, senior Allison Lee and sophomore Alexis Anne Batac practice their routine for International week at practice after school on Thursday, Feb. 16. They held practices biweekly to prepare.

APRO to perform for International night and talent show

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Feb 28, 2023
A heart-shaped ornament made for Valentine's day. Many people decorate for February 14.

How to have fun when single on Valentine’s Day

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Feb 14, 2023
Artistic director Colleen McAdory holds an interest for "The Addams Family" on Dec. 20. It is set to be the spring musical, to go live Apr. 14.

S*T*A*G*E announces “The Addams Family” to be spring musical

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Jan 17, 2023
Students' favorite Christmas classics. Home Alone (51 votes); The Grinch (28 votes); The Nightmare Before Christmas (15 votes); Die Hard (9 votes)

Pitch’s Picks: must-watch winter movies you can’t miss

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Dec 21, 2022
Students walk to their respective buses after a day of school. Buses have been missing many times this year, leaving students to find alternative ways home.

Students battle cold while waiting for late buses

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Dec 1, 2022
Memes are spread online after the PSAT on the 12th

Memes are spread online after the PSAT on the 12th

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Nov 3, 2022
Bilingual students shouldn't have to take a language class

Bilingual students shouldn’t have to take a language class

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Oct 24, 2022
North Bethesda Middle school was breached during the school day on Oct. 6. Many rumors have circulated, including that the intruder was armed, but have been proven false.

Unarmed intruder causes panic at North Bethesda Middle School

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Oct 20, 2022
Director Colleen McAdory discusses the upcoming play at the S*T*A*G*E interest meeting. "The bad news is we do not have a Technical Director per se. the good news is that I am bound and determined to do a show despite the fact that we don't have a Technical Director, so, we are dispelling the rumors that there is no show," McAdory said.

S*T*A*G*E to perform Twilight Zone for fall play

Mia Magone, Business Manager
Sep 22, 2022
Protesters gather at the March for Our Lives protest on Saturday, June 11. The protest was in response to the deadly school shooting in Uvalde as well as other mass shootings in recent weeks.

What really happened at the Uvalde shooting

Mia Magone, Staff Writer
Jun 16, 2022
Lawmaker walks by recent mass shooting memorials blindly.

Law makers need to change priorities

Rhea Noumair and Mia Magone
Jun 14, 2022
The Pitch staff get together for their 2022 photo during 5th period. Pitch members are thrilled to celebrate another year of The Pitch.

Why should you join the Pitch?

Mia Magone, Staff Writer
May 11, 2022
Sophomore Leila Chidiac charging alone at the the opposing team. At the end of the tournament, students played a free for all game.

SGA dodgeball tournament provides students with thrilling competition

Mia Magone, Staff Writer
Apr 6, 2022
On early release days, buses depart at 12:07 PM. such as the half day on April 1st, 2022, for the end of quarter 3.

WJ community debates functionality of half days

Mia Magone, Staff Writer
Apr 5, 2022
Dating has changed a lot in the digital era, though even with social media and dating apps, Over half of all singles in America have not had a date in over two years.

Student discuss their best dates

Mia Magone, Staff Writer
Mar 10, 2022
Why we need WJ Olympics

Why we need WJ Olympics

Mia Magone, Staff Writer
Feb 28, 2022
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