The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
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.
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
Paper Bridges letter drive to be set in December
Paper Bridges letter drive to be set in December
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
Sophomore Grace Harrington and father dress down in their regalia for powwow. Photos similar to these hang in her house with her father often reminding her of her Native ancestry. “Some people put little pilgrim decorations up on their house at Thanksgiving, we do not do that, but we do still celebrate it because it brings our family together,” Huntington said. (Courtesy Grace Harrington)
To celebrate or not to celebrate: Thanksgiving’s meaning today
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
Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez (left) play Erik and Lyle Menendez (right) in "Monsters." Both images feature the brothers at trial, following their murder of their parents after enduring year of trauma and abuse at the hands of their father. (Courtesy Netflix used via fair use)
The controversy behind the hit Netflix show ‘Monsters’
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 English, math classes
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
A student tiredly walks down a hallway after a school day. Many students feel drained after a day of school, but is WJ the problem?
Is the school the problem? The case for WJ
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
Junior Annie Linkie and senior Anna Kotek run down one of the many hills of the states course. "The race was really crowded at the start and it was difficult to find a spot where I could keep my pace," Linkie said. "Luckily, I was able to run with some of my teammates which always helps with the mental difficulty during the race."
Girls’ cross country bolts over the hills, finishes 5th in state
Junior quarterback Jake Forburger takes the snap from junior center Andrew Corrado during the game against Laurel. Forburger consistently drove the ball down the field, contributing to a 40-13 win.
Wildcats trample Spartans in playoffs
ESOL pumpkin carving
ESOL pumpkin carving
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
What conspiracy theories do you believe in?
What conspiracy theories do you believe in?
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Yuval Shachar

Yuval Shachar, Print Editor-in-Chief

Yuval is a senior, excited to be a Print Editor-in-Chief for her third year of the Pitch! Outside of Room 193, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time outdoors.
All content by Yuval Shachar
Yuval Shachar's senior reflection

Yuval Shachar’s senior reflection

Yuval Shachar, Print EIC
May 24, 2023
Senior Destini Haith performs a solo during the dinner scene in the second act of the play. Haith's solo performance showed vocal mastery and powerful acting.

S*T*A*G*E brings lively fun to macabre in Addams family musical

Liam Dorrien, Yuval Shachar and Robert Hsu
May 10, 2023

Seniors share advice to incoming freshmen and underclassmen

Yuval Shachar and Zsuzsanna Juhasz
March 14, 2023
“I don't mind. They can wear whatever they wanna wear. I mean, I don't really wear it that often, like personally, but once in a while I wear some pajamas, but I don't mind loaf wear, it's fine.” - Rafael Quattrucci, 12

Up-At-Bat: Is it disrespectful to dress in “loaf” wear in school?

Yuval Shachar, Print EIC
March 7, 2023
Why do we not give valentines anymore?

Why do we not give valentines anymore?

Yuval Shachar, Print EIC
February 14, 2023
Security guard Kelly McDonnell checks students' ID cards as they walk into the building in the morning. These checks are done before school and at lunch to ensure the safety of students in the building and are only part of the duties of the security guards at school.

Black cadillacs to blue jackets: Kelly McDonnell’s career journey

Yuval Shachar and Katie Campbell
February 8, 2023
Sophomore Yahlly Kachlon shows off her favorite crocheted creation. The project was modeled off of a famous Harry Styles cardigan.

Staying in the loop: why do students crochet and knit?

Raquel Daley and Yuval Shachar
December 13, 2022
"My message to students is to think about how your relationships, how your choices are going to serve you." - Resource Counselor Imani Ladson.

Teachers, counselors share the unseen side of college recommendations

Yuval Shachar, Print EIC
November 1, 2022
English teacher Adam Zeitlin grades a student essay out of his pile of 60 plus essays for AP Literature. Zeitlin noted that a significant difference between teaching English and physics was the grading workload.

Adam Zeitlin pulls a 180 switching from STEM to humanities

Yuval Shachar, Print EIC
September 21, 2022
(Left to Right) Next year's SGA officers juniors Ethan Mendes, Lauren Kim, Bryan Kibet and Luke Liden discuss the homecoming video for next year. Many of these meetings have been held by the officers to start planning for next year.

Sneak peek into next year SGA plans

Yuval Shachar and Jona Jancewicz
June 14, 2022
Dramitization of sophomores Torben Mucchetti and Erik Austengard cheating on an assignment. The students were not participating in academic dishonesty.

Classifying cheating: students, teachers on academic dishonesty

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
May 24, 2022
Monifa McKnight has been appointed as MCPS's permanent Superintendent a month ago. McKnight became the first woman to lead MCPS and has vowed to rebuild trust with the MCPS community following what many called poor communication regarding Covid-19 regulations.

A rundown of the MCPS Superintendent’s press conference

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
April 8, 2022
Mental illnesses have become an accessory for many people, and some use it as a "personality trait". It is seen as cool to be mentally ill, furthering the romanticization of mental illnesses and mental health.

Mental health stigmas, romanticizing still present today

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
April 2, 2022
Junior Omer Bezherano washes her hands in the girl's G-floor gym bathroom. The bathroom doors, at this bathroom and others, are open at any time, and anyone walking by can see into them.

Behind closed stalls: A deep dive into school bathrooms

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
March 28, 2022
"Honestly, at this point I'm sort of indiferrent to it becase I've been doing it for so long, when I was in school I had the same teacher all year and I think there's value in that because you get to know the rhythms, routines and such, but I've been teaching so long with the system as it is, I've just kind of gotten used to it." - English teacher Joshua Fullenkamp.

Up at bat: What are your thoughts on changing teachers during semester class changes?

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
February 14, 2022
Precalc teacher Tricia Cooper teacher her 6 period Precalc class while recording the class on zoom. Cooper usually records her classes to later post on Canvas for students who were absent to follow along.

Teachers accommodating students online

Ila Gordon and Yuval Shachar
February 14, 2022
The official Magruder HS Twitter page thanks fellow MCPS schools for their messages of support. There has been an outpouring of love from around the County for the staff and students at Magruder including wearing grey and blue on Tuesday, January 25.

Gun-related incidents rock MCPS

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
January 27, 2022
Students at WJ often match their cars; both in looks and personality. Many students notice these peculiar yet accurate similarities in their friends and family.

Me and not-so-mini me: students match their cars

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
January 21, 2022
Year in review: What happened in 2021?

Year in review: What happened in 2021?

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
December 21, 2021
As more individuals fight for Julius Jones, students at WJ arefollowing his case and spreading his story. Julius Jones's petition had spread across the US and the world, with over 6.5 million signatures.

Students speak out about Julius Jones case

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
December 21, 2021
The thick layers of chocolate topped with mouthwatering candy canes is simply irresistible. Especially around the holidays, there is simply no better dessert.

Can the holidays be enjoyed vegan?

Yuval Shachar and Ila Gordon
December 21, 2021
English 10 students work on an assignment in room 194. Throughout MCPS a discussion about the diversity gap is being held, as the student body is more diverse than its staff counterpart.

Demographic discrepancies prompt concern

Yuval Shachar and Ila Gordon
December 20, 2021
Pictured above is an actual Jude patch from the Holocaust. The anti-vax patches encased the words "not vaccinated" and were sold in a shop in kansas.

Students react to anti-vaxxers’ holocaust patches

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
December 17, 2021
Any family who can donate to the food drive is encouraged to do so. Last year over 70 full baskets were provided to families in need.

WJ families organize Thanksgiving food drive

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
November 16, 2021
Seniors Cian Haefele and Catherine Prado hold a Blue Bench meeting on Friday, Nov. 5. Prior to the meeting, Blue Bench officers met with Principal Jennifer Baker on Nov. 1 to talk about sexual assault at WJ. During the meeting, officers shared the outcome of the meeting as well as the topics discussed with club members.

Students ignite conversation about sexual assault

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
November 12, 2021
Many students wear their masks under their noses or mouths, defying the whole purpose of wearing a mask in the first place. Unfortunaley some students don't listen to those who tell them to pull their masks up.

Wearing your mask under your nose does not make you look cool

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
November 12, 2021
Health teacher Lorraine Goldstein assists her students with an in-class assignment. While in-person assignments are fairly low-stress, the work level differs for online health class.

The disparities between online and in-person health

Ila Gordon and Yuval Shachar
November 12, 2021
Senior Halle Burns (left) and senior Caitlyn Rose (right) pose with their fall fashion on October 22. Burns and Rose combined fashion and functionality and dressed fashionably for the cold weather.

Fall fashion photo gallery

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
November 2, 2021
Public indoor areas in Montgomery County can now remove their "face masks required" signs, due to the mandate lift. Before the lift, stores in Montgomery County were required to put up these signs and some stores provided people with masks upon entry.

Montgomery County lifts indoor mask mandate

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
October 29, 2021
Students watch the game and cheer at the football game on Friday Sept. 24. Most students did not wear masks or social distance at the game.

Students neglect to wear masks full time

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
October 18, 2021
During in-person school students are able to eat with their friends during lunch. Students can choose to eat almost anywhere on campus as well as off campus at G-square or at the mall if they can drive.

Point Counter Point: In person vs online school

Ila Gordon and Yuval Shachar
October 15, 2021
Walter Johnson was found vandalized the morning of Sunday October 3. The graffiti included hate speech and references to white supremacy.

WJ vandalized with racist and homophobic hate speech

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
October 3, 2021
Walter Johnson students cheer on the WJ football team at the first game of the season. The game took place at Churchill High School on September 8.

WJ’s enthusiastic student section at football game

Yuval Shachar, Senior News Editor
September 20, 2021
Graduated senior Jaidon Smith in his senior portrait. Smith and another WJ graduate were killed in a car crash on Wednesday June 9.

Two graduated seniors killed in car crash

Yuval Shachar and Maeve Sanford-Kelly
June 11, 2021
Senior Shiri Cohen talks about her expectations for graduation. Seniors have already received their caps and gowns on May 19.

Senior reaction to graduation restrictions

Yuval Shachar, Layout Editor and Business Manager
May 27, 2021
As AP tests start taking place in the building, classes need to be moved to other classrooms. With the weather warming up, The Pitch class decided to have their class outside due to an AP test taking place in their classroom.

Within these walls: students return to WJ

Jona Jancewicz and Yuval Shachar
May 25, 2021
According to College Board, AP tests will be full length, ranging from 2 to 3 hours depending on the subject. As many students signed up for more than one AP class, some might not want to study and sit for numerous 3-hour tests, and therefore have decided to opt out of the exam.

Students are not taking AP tests

Yuval Shachar, Layout Editor and Business Manager
May 20, 2021
Many students are already attending school in person. However, many were unsure and opted to stay home and remain virtual.

Students deciding to stay virtual rather than returning in-person

Yuval Shachar, Layout Editor and Business Manager
May 11, 2021
People often associate hearts, candy and flowers with Valentine's day. However, none of these really relate to the holiday's original origins.

The history of valentines day

Yuval Shachar, Layout Editor and Business Manager
February 28, 2021
Students are failing more, not just in the grade book. The average SAT score for WJ has dropped from the 2018-19 to the 2019-20 school year.

Students are failing much more in online school

Yuval Shachar, Layout Editor and Business Manager
February 11, 2021
AP College Board offers free online support and resources for students taking AP classes online. This year and in past years students and teachers have used AP College Board to distribute and teach material for their classes.

AP classes: Harder or easier during a pandemic?

Yuval Shachar, Layout Editor and Business Manager
January 22, 2021
Senior Olivia Zaid lights the Menorah with her family for the 6th night of Hanukkah. Even during a pandemic, families still celebrated and performed holiday traditions.

How people are celebrating holidays this season

Yuval Shachar, Layout Editor and Business Manager
December 21, 2020
Some may think this is what the world would look like if Generation Z ran it. However, the WJ student body which is composed of Gen Z, said otherwise.

What if Gen Z ruled the world?

Yuval Shachar, Business Manager
November 30, 2020
The infamous house on Tilden Lane lives up and exceeds all expectations, and provides us with spooky decorations. As Halloween is drawing near, many people have started decorating their houses to be as scary and festive as possible.

Bored? Covid-safe activities are sure to keep you busy

Yuval Shachar, Business Manager
November 2, 2020
Sources of Strength 2020-2021 leadership team meets to discuss their plans for virtual campaigns during suicide awareness month.

Suicide Awareness Month

Yuval Shachar, Layout Editor anmentald Business Manager
September 30, 2020
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