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The Student News Site of Thomas S. Wootton High School

Common Sense
The Student News Site of Thomas S. Wootton High School

Common Sense
The Student News Site of Thomas S. Wootton High School

Common Sense
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Poll

Best second semester event?

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  • Thomas S. Wootton
    0
    North Hagerstown
    3
    Nov 16 / Girls Volleyball
  • Thomas S. Wootton
    20
    Magruder
    7
    Nov 14 / Football
  • Thomas S. Wootton
    3
    Howard
    0
    Nov 12 / Girls Volleyball
  • Thomas S. Wootton
    35
    Thomas Johnson
    21
    Nov 8 / Football
  • Thomas S. Wootton
    3
    Dulaney
    0
    Nov 8 / Girls Volleyball
  • Thomas S. Wootton
    3
    Magruder
    0
    Nov 6 / Girls Volleyball
  • Thomas S. Wootton
    13
    Damascus
    53
    Nov 1 / Football
  • Thomas S. Wootton
    3
    Watkins Mill
    0
    Nov 1 / Girls Volleyball
  • Thomas S. Wootton
    15
    Magruder
    20
    Oct 24 / Football
  • Thomas S. Wootton
    14
    Churchill
    0
    Oct 23 / Varsity Girls Flag Football
News
BSU members held a walkout on Dec 6. to express their disapproval of the administration's reaction to anti-Black hate events.
What should have happened: Correct procedures for hate bias incident reporting; new policies aim to unite community
Heerah Jayakumar and Emory Scofield • January 23, 2025
Computers are used each morning for ID scanning and signing in.
New policies aiming to tighten school security have downsides
Siena McCarthy, staff writer • January 22, 2025
Alex Ye is photographed in the Volume 51 Fife & Drum yearbook from the 2021-2022 school year.
Former student found guilty of threat of mass violence following 129-page manifesto
Lea Weinstein, managing editor • January 22, 2025
Students walk alongside buses as they exit the school. Sometimes they walk between the buses to the other side of the street - a main factor in the decision to add a bus loop.
Bus loop subject to change for 2025-26 school year
AJ Shiflett, sports editor • January 21, 2025
Profiles
Choral director and class sponsor Keith Schwartz joins Acatonic seniors Aiden Feng, Naysa Mustafa, Joy Nadda, Kelvin Zhou and sophomore Benedict Santos for a team breakfast on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Panera in Fallsgrove. The group gathered ahead of their visit to feeder schools, where they promoted a cappella as an elective option and performed songs they had learned over the past four months. “I’ve had Mr. Schwartz as a teacher for four years, and every year I feel like I learn more about him and more about myself. Schwartz has taught me to be more timely and responsible,” Nadda said.
A week in the life of inimitable Keith Schwartz
Ahmed Ibrahim, opinion editor • January 14, 2025
Class of 2016 graduate Jordan Weitz was included in the Forbes 30 under 30 list. After graduating, Weitz attended Yale before becoming a cofounder of Keychain, a company worth over $250 million.
Jordan Weitz makes Forbes 30 under 30 list
Cameron Cowen, news editor • January 13, 2025
Senior Daksh Badri visits Columbia University with his mom, the college he will be attending in the fall after applying early decision this application cycle. "I decided to ED to Columbia because I formed a deep connection with the university when I went on a tour there," Badri said.
Students commit to dream schools through early decision
Diya Khetan, news editor • January 13, 2025
Honors modern world history teacher Kraig Bauer explains how to complete a worksheet to his fourth period class on Jan. 3.
From teaching history, to teaching to grill, Kraig Bauer does it all, building connections along the way
Evan Halpern, staff writer • January 3, 2025
Opinion
The Frost hill is a symbol of the school community; its size and accessibility draw visitors across the county on snow days. Despite it being fun, it can be problematic if people are not careful. "It is very dangerous and until I got hurt, I never realized the extent of that danger," senior Charlie Balian said.
The tourist attraction of MCPS: What the public won’t say about the Frost hill
Alex Grainger, senior sports editor • February 18, 2025
Acting Principal Dr. Joseph Bostic Jr. helps direct afternoon traffic in the parking lot. Despite the help of the security team and other staff, the parking lot rules are often ignored. "People can't get out that are trying to get out, and parents don't seem to care," social studies teacher Christopher McTamany said.
Parents just don’t understand…the parking lot rules
February 18, 2025
Juniors Beliz Kuter, Simrik Mahata, Shayna Kreiser and Emma Illig work on homework in the hallway during advisory on Friday Dec. 20. "I like having advisory but I would prefer it if we had it with lunch as well so we have more time to do assignments instead of having a 20 minute block," Kuter said.
Improving school safety or making students, staff lives harder?
January 3, 2025
Football is a intense and aggressive high contact sport. Referees are one of the only lines of defense to protect the players from illegal hits, (leading with the helmet) which in turn, leads to head injures.
More must be done to combat biggest danger in football
December 21, 2024
Decorative Background
Reviews
Four of the main actors of John Hughes' sixth feature "The Breakfast Club," are Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall.
Four not-to-miss coming of age movies
Maria Daraselia, editor-in-chief • January 22, 2025
Ranked as the fourth choice on the best winter movie list is "Home Alone." "I love 'Home Alone' because I think that it is fun to watch but also has a cute Christmas message about family. My part that stands out to me is the scene where the robbers try to break in and fail repeatedly because it is funny and unique," junior Mia Stubbins said.
Best winter movies: providing warmth, comfort during chilly weather
January 9, 2025
Moana 2 is now playing at AMC theaters in Rio in Gaithersburg.
‘Moana 2:’ sailing waves to pulling up islands
December 16, 2024
Sophomore Noa Lucas rewatches Rylee Arnold and Stephen Nedoroscik perform their Nov. 26 final freestyle with friends at lunch on Dec. 9. "My favorite part of the season was probably Rylee and Stephen’s last dance, they seemed so happy. Their emotions in that dance gave off the real reason the show was made, to make new friendships and to have fun," Lucas said.
Newest season of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ jazzes viewers
December 11, 2024
Features
Freshman Heba Abdelhafiz walks into her new second semester English class on Feb. 13. “Switching classes wasn’t that hard and I got used to it pretty quickly,” Abdelhafiz said.
Incoming freshmen: the first semester run
Janna Frank, staff writer • February 18, 2025
Pablo's Garden in Rockville showcases recycled art decor and furniture pieces.
From soil to canvas: Pablo’s Garden owners turn painting, business passion into oasis
January 23, 2025
Seniors Inayat Thukral and Yana Kohli explore the sights in Buenos Aires, Argentina, over winter break with a friend.
Doing the impossible: How to distract yourself from college decisions
January 22, 2025
Jeffrey Benya teaches his students all they need to know in preparation for the AP World History exam. "I worry about students taking too many AP classes because AP is supposed to be a college-level course. They're working extensively on vocabulary and in-depth information, on a great deal of topics. It's a lot for a high school student. I think our students rise to that occasion quite well," Benya said.
Evil APs: How AP classes gain a reputation for being easy when details aren’t divulged
January 21, 2025
Columns
Sophomore Amen Tekleab shows off her Valentine's Day gift from her friend during advisory Friday, Feb. 14.
What the world is reading: Romcoms for the season of love
Emma Karcz, managing editor • February 14, 2025
Junior Ahmed Ibrahim posts to his Instagram story on June 26, eating a Pop-Tart at the exact moment the third season of FX's "The Bear" dropped on Hulu and Disney+.
The three best TV shows of 2024
Ahmed Ibrahim, opinion editor • December 16, 2024
Perfect gifts to give to book-loving friends include a Kindle and bookmarks.
What the world is reading: Holiday gift guide for book lovers
Emma Karcz, managing editor • December 12, 2024
Junior Grace Song rewatches the trailer for Anora. Promoted as "A Love Story from Sean Baker," it is the eighth feature film under Baker's belt starring Mikey Madison in the titular role. "[Anora] accurately represents women overseen and easily taken advantage of. It emotionally enticed me. The ending is so good," Song said.
Why ‘Anora’ matters
Ahmed Ibrahim, opinion editor • November 21, 2024
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