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
Sourish Dey

Sourish Dey, Online News Editor

Sourish is a senior and an Online News Editor for the Pitch this year. This is his second year on the Pitch and he likes to bike for fun.
All content by Sourish Dey
Sourish Dey's senior reflection

Sourish Dey’s senior reflection

Sourish Dey, Online News Editor
May 24, 2023
Montgomery County Police Department 2nd District Commander Amy Daum, Principal Jennifer Baker and Community Engagement Officer Shate Jackson address the school during the morning announcements informing them of the changes to the open lunch policy. The new policy will require students to return to campus after purchasing food and drink.

Open lunch reformed, “Pay and Go” to be implemented Monday

Sourish Dey and Seyun Park
April 26, 2023
Ariana Kelly served as a State Delegate before becoming a state senator. In that role, she rose to the rank of deputy majority whip.

Alum Ariana Kelly appointed to State Senate

Sourish Dey, Online News Editor
March 29, 2023

WJ delegates reflect on the SMOB Nominating Convention

Sourish Dey, Online News Editor
February 24, 2023
`

Seniors reflect on college apps

Sourish Dey, Online News Editor
February 14, 2023
Point/Counterpoint: Are bike lanes on Old Georgetown Rd beneficial?

Point/Counterpoint: Are bike lanes on Old Georgetown Rd beneficial?

Sourish Dey and Cecilia Saltzman
January 26, 2023
A Silver Line train pulls out of the station. The line now runs from Ashburn in Loudoun County to Largo in Prince George's County.

Metro extends silver line to Dulles Airport, Loudoun County

Sourish Dey, Online News Editor
December 15, 2022
Students walk to their buses at the end of the school day. Thanks to a new bus electrification project, many students now ride electric buses to and from school.

MCPS embarks on bus electrification

Sourish Dey, Online News Editor
December 11, 2022
Teacher Fredrick Delello assists his AP Government students as they work on an assignment.

AP Government classes now separated between sophomores and freshmen

Sourish Dey, Online News Editor
November 4, 2022
A view of the Cabin John Creek from the trail. The trail runs very close to the creek and offers many views by the water.

Trails to explore in the WJ area

Sourish Dey, Online News Editor
October 22, 2022
Sophomores Samuel Chang, Charles Ponyicsanyi and Amit Sabba walk through the portables on their way to their US History class. They will have to deal with the locked exterior doors to access their classes in the main building.

Portables present challenges for WJ community

Sourish Dey, Online News Editor
September 22, 2022
Freshman Travis Schultz and Charlotte Austegard display their IDs during lunch. As an increased security measure, administration has asked students to wear IDs while they are at school.

New policies headline new school year

Alexander Lewton, Seyun Park and Sourish Dey
September 20, 2022
Social studies teacher Mitchell Joy prepares to teach a class. In addition to being a social studies teacher, Joy holds a Religious Literacy course over the summer for teachers.

WJ to hold religous literacy class for teachers over the summer

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
June 16, 2022
Juniors Theodore Dietrich and Sienna Karp ride the Metro into DC. Many WJ students use the Metro as an easy way to get into downtown DC.

Metro faces numerous challenges and an uncertain future (Part 2)

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
June 13, 2022
Map of the British island during the Last Kingdom. As seen, there are numerous kingdoms on the island.

The Last Kingdom: Season 5 review

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
June 3, 2022
Metro riders wait for a red line train at the Metro Center station. Metro Center is one of the major transfer points in the Metro system.

Metro faces numerous challenges and an uncertain future (Part 1)

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
April 22, 2022
"It's [a mask is] not really helping me with my face breaking out with acne." -Noah Osterhues, 12

Student express opinions on masks

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
March 28, 2022
Former president Barack Obama signs the Affordable Care Act into law in 2010. This law expanded healthcare to over 25 million more people but failed to provide universal coverage.

The US needs a single payer universal healthcare system

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
February 22, 2022
Hunger strikers and supporters rally outside the White House in support of the Build Back Better Act. In recent years, climate activists have escalated their actions as the time to act on climate change runs out.

Now is the time to act to stop climate change

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
February 10, 2022
I-270 just north of its intersection with I-495. The widening plan would widen part of I-270 towards its southern end.

Widening I-270 isn’t the answer

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
December 17, 2021
Senior Andrew Schell runs in the state championships at Hereford High School. Schell finished 3rd in his race.

Girls XC takes state title, Schell takes 3rd place individually

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
November 30, 2021
Senior Alex Fintenko runs in the Bronx. This was the cross country team's second travel meet this year.

Cross Country Competes in the Manhatton Invitational

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
November 15, 2021
Seniors Amelia Burkhart, Isabelle Senfaute and Ellie Rogers run in the MCPS championships. This was the first county championship for cross country since the start of the pandemic.

Cross country competes in county and regional championships

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
November 12, 2021
Maren Conze in a University of North Carolina shirt after she committed to the school. The university recruited her while she was a junior.

Swimmer Maren Conze commits to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
October 27, 2021
The bike lane on Old Georgetown Road provides cyclists with a dedicate lane of travel. Unfortunately, this bike lane only exists for a small stretch of the road.

Old Georgetown Road’s bike lane should be extended North to the 355 intersection

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
October 21, 2021
Cross country competes at a meet in North Carolina. This is the first travel meet for the team since before the pandemic.

Cross country returns to near pre-pandemic conditions for fall season

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
October 7, 2021
U.S. soldiers on patrol in Afghanistan. This troop presence ended with President Biden's withdrawal decision.

WJ students react to Afghanistan withdrawal

Sourish Dey, Staff Writer
September 22, 2021
Load More Stories
Donate to The Pitch
$356
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal