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
Stella Hadamer

Stella Hadamer, Print Editor-in-Chief

Senior Stella Hadamer is very excited to be a Print Editor-in-Chief in her third year on the Pitch. When she is not writing or editing articles she enjoys re-reading her favorite books, listening to music and hanging out with her friends.

All content by Stella Hadamer
Stella Hadamer's senior reflection

Stella Hadamer’s senior reflection

Stella Hadamer, Print Editor-in-Chief
May 24, 2022
Cultural perspectives on emotional well-being

Cultural perspectives on emotional well-being

Aya Hesham and Stella Hadamer
April 2, 2022
Year in review: Best books of 2021

Year in review: Best books of 2021

Stella Hadamer, Print Editor-in-Chief
December 21, 2021
"Gods of Jade and Shadow" is a historical fantasy novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia who became a renowned novelist with her book "Mexican Gothic" published in mid-2020.

Pitch Book Club: Gods of Jade and Shadow

Cyiza Andemambika, Aya Hesham, Stella Hadamer and Meron Berhe
December 20, 2021
In addition to "The Guest List," The Pitch also suggests you try out some of these books. Perfect for Halloween, these spooky stories will delight any mystery or thriller fan!

Pitch Book Club: The Guest List

Meron Berhe, Cyiza Andemambika, Aya Hesham and Stella Hadamer
October 30, 2021
The WJ Baby sits for their interview. As an important figure in WJ society, the Baby had to be interviewed carefully and extensively to get the inside scoop.

WJ Baby Exposé

Catherine Prado and Stella Hadamer
October 21, 2021
Some TikTok challenges, such as dance trends, are harmless and stay contained to the app. A problem arises when challenges spread to the "real world" and start affecting others.

Absurd TikTok challenges take over WJ

Stella Hadamer, Print Editor-in-Chief
October 15, 2021
On Saturday, Oct. 2, thousands gathered in DC to protest the potential overturning of Roe V. Wade. The rally included speeches by several notable women's rights activists. “No matter where you live, no matter where you are, this moment is dark — it is dark — but that’s why we’re here,” Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood, told the crowd at the “Rally for Abortion Justice.”

Rally for abortion justice

Stella Hadamer
October 5, 2021
The Pitch Book Club's September read was "The Inheritance Games" by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. This is an exciting YA mystery that fans of "Knives Out" will really enjoy!

Pitch Book Club: The Inheritance Games

Meron Berhe, Stella Hadamer, Aya Hesham and Cyiza Andemambika
September 22, 2021
WJ's Wildcat mascot welcomes students as they arrive at the year's first pep rally. For many underclassmen, this was their first pep rally ever. Even juniors only attended a few during their freshmen/last year in person.

First Post-Quarantine Pep rally excites students

Stella Hadamer, Print Editor-in-Chief
September 21, 2021
"They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera is a story of love and loss that follows two teenage boys throughout their last day alive.

Book Club: They Both Die At The End

Aya Hesham, Cyiza Andemambika and Stella Hadamer
June 1, 2021
Ward's love for poetry began in the 3rd grade when she began keeping a poetry journal (pictured).

Creativity amid uncertainty: Ronnie Ward

Stella Hadamer, Senior Feature Editor
May 6, 2021
The House in the Cerulean sea, by TJ Klune, is a heartwarming tale of found-family and overcoming prejudice. In this stunning novel filled with magic, laughs and love Klune envelopes you in a hung (in the form of a book).

Pitch book club: The House in the Cerulean Sea

Cyiza Andemambika, Aya Hesham and Stella Hadamer
April 23, 2021
A celebration of women's literature

A celebration of women’s literature

Stella Hadamer, Senior Feature Editor
March 28, 2021
This is one of Pham's favorite pieces. "I really like taking portraits of strangers because there is always that underlying mystery of who exactly they are and how they are feeling," Pham said.

Creativity amid uncertainty: May Pham

Stella Hadamer, Senior Feature Editor
March 15, 2021
The way other countries, such as Japan (pictured), have handled the Covid pandemic leaves much to be desired in terms of Covid policy in the U.S.However, it also shows us that it's possible to control this crisis and it gives us hope for the future.

The good of 2020: Silver linings of a disastrous year

Stella Hadamer, Senior Feature Editor
March 8, 2021
"The Girls I've Been" (January 26) is another highly anticipated book being released this year. This book is about Nora O’Malley, the daughter of a con artist, who is taken hostage during a bank robbery. The book is already being considered for a Netflix movie adaptation starring Millie Bobby Brown. Buy: https://rb.gy/fhmvom

Most anticipated books of 2021

Stella Hadamer, Senior Feature Editor
January 9, 2021
Like many other Americans, Johnson attended the BLM march after the killing of George Floyd. "Our journey began at the White House and we marched to Chinatown, each stop being 8 minutes in honor of George Floyd. From there we marched across Washington, DC, crossing the major highway interchange in Southwest," Johnson said.

Creativity amid uncertainty: Steven Johnson

Stella Hadamer, Senior Feature Editor
December 21, 2020
When asked about inspiration, Aibek Kyzy also mentioned more specific influences. "I'm often inspired by kpop!" Aibek Kyzy said.

Creativity amid uncertainty: Aidana Aibek Kyzy

Stella Hadamer, Senior Feature Editor
December 19, 2020
"This is one of my favorites! I explored using shape, rather than texture or design, to create visual interest," Gagne said.

Creativity amid uncertainty: Camille Gagne

Stella Hadamer, Senior Feature Editor
December 19, 2020
Title: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle Author: Stuart Turton Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller Where to Buy: https://rb.gy/933vzg

Seasonably spooky stories perfect for Halloween

Stella Hadamer, Senior Feature Editor
October 27, 2020
The younger generation is experiencing an interesting twist in beauty norms as quarantine throws a wrench in a decades long practice in feminine culture: shaving.

A brief history of shaving

Stella Hadamer, Senior Feature Editor
September 30, 2020
It is a common misconception that people can only enjoy classic literature OR modern works and not both. Take this summer to mix it up a bit and try some books that you may not normally pick up.

Pitch’s looks at must-read books

Stella Hadamer and Chelsea Laurik
June 11, 2020
With places such as Harry Potter World and Universal studios shut down, Harry Potter fans take to the internet to create new fun filled activities for fans of all degrees to take part in.

Three magical lockdown activities for every Harry Potter fan

Stella Hadamer, Feature Editor
May 21, 2020
A horoscope is an astrological prediction of someones personality or future based on the position of planets at the time of a person's birth. Disclaimer: These are not meant to be taken seriously and don't have any scientific backing to them. They're just for fun.

Horoscopes: some good old fashioned advice

Stella Hadamer, Print Feature Editor
May 7, 2020
If you're looking for another classic movie or TV show to binge watch try The Twilight Zone (both the series and the movie). The Twilight Zone is weird mix of horror, sci-fi, drama, and comedy and is definitely a must-see.

Pitch’s picks for classic flicks

Stella Hadamer, Print Feature Editor
May 3, 2020

What makes WJ students happy?

Stella Hadamer, Feature Editor
February 13, 2020
Asking for inappropriate pictures is a common type of peer pressure teens face daily.

Relationship Issue: Red flags that you should not ignore

Stella Hadamer and Aya Hesham
February 13, 2020
"We were just really passionate about advocating for designer drugs!" -Paulina Matzkin, 11

Health fair slideshow

Stella Hadamer
January 31, 2020
Upcoming events in 2020 include; the presidential election, the Olympics in Tokyo, and a total solar eclipse.

Is 2020 going to be our year?

Stella Hadamer, Feature Editor
January 17, 2020
Health teacher Lorraine Goldstein leads the class in the first activity of the family life unit. The activities rely heavily on student participation and many enjoy these engaging subjects.

How helpful is health class?

Stella Hadamer, Feature Editor
December 10, 2019
This club works to celebrate the Hispanic/Latin cultures of the world with the WJ community. All students are welcome to come and share their culture, learn a new culture, organize events and just become a part of this vibrant and dynamic group of students.

Club fair showcases diversity

Stella Hadamer, Feature Editor
November 14, 2019
Gap Years: Yay or Nay

Gap Years: Yay or Nay

Stella Hadamer, Feature Editor
November 1, 2019
Shiima Nantulya and her mother visit a hospital in Rwanda where they meet a paralyzed boy named Trésor who's story changed Nantulya's life forever. (Left to right) Rwandan nurse, Shiima Nantulya, Tresor, Carine Kaneza , Fabrice.

Making a difference: How a WJ student connects us with Burundi

Stella Hadamer, Feature Editor
September 28, 2019
An exam sheet is filled during a standardized test. This year many students are preparing for standardized tests such as the SAT.

SAT tests don’t measure knowledge

Stella Hadamer, Staff Writer
March 7, 2019
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