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Opinion
Want a frequently engaged community? Hold more field trips
Shayna Fleischer, opinion editor | April 3, 2025
Features
When is the right time for summer job applications?
Casen Linn, staff writer | April 3, 2025
Opinion
Behavior of Democrat figures is inexcusable
Nate Massey, staff writer | April 3, 2025
Sports
Baseball pitches into new season
Ahmed Ibrahim, opinion editor | April 3, 2025
Sports
Softball carries 2-3 record into second week
Alex Grainger, senior sports editor | April 3, 2025
News
Graduation season brings changes
Lea Weinstein, managing editor | April 3, 2025
Arts
School murals spark creativity, connection
Naina Giare, managing editor | April 2, 2025
Sports
Girls’ lacrosse cradles to victory
Nicole Kaffee, staff writer | April 2, 2025
Features
Seniors share excitement for future events, reminisce on past
Sydney Chaikin, social media editor | April 2, 2025
Sports
Ovechkin nearing Gretzky’s scoring record
Tyler Mollica, staff writer | April 2, 2025

Common Sense Print Edition

Poll

Fourth quarter feelings?

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Burnt out

Excited

It's almost summer

Stressed

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

Junior Adam Gelic collects his prizes for winning the first ever Patriot Games on Mar. 14.

Patriot Games bring excitement throughout community

Zorawar Sodhi, staff writer • April 2, 2025

Seniors Ricky Gomez and Miguel Giron are recipients of full-tuition Posse scholarships.

Miguel Giron, Ricky Gomez receive full-tuition Posse Scholarships

Cameron Cowen, news editor • March 28, 2025

Freshman Eleazar Escamilla reviews the Doran Scholarship website.

Dr. Michael Doran leaves lasting impact through scholarship for seniors

Sloane Berk, staff writer • March 27, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak at the White House on Feb. 28.

US-European relations usher in shift in tide of Russo-Ukrainian war

Jake Sklias, profiles editor • March 25, 2025

Profiles

Junior Zaara Burnett officially commits to Ohio State University on Feb. 3 after receiving an offer during her visit to the school. Ohio State was one of Burnett's top five choices, and she is excited to start a new chapter of her life as a Buckeye in 2026.

Junior Zaara Burnett commits to Ohio State University

Helen Manolis, features editor • March 18, 2025

Junior Urielle Ngako shows her short film "#StudentsInYourFields" to junior Anna Nishnianidze on Mar. 14 in the back of the TV production room. While Nishnianidze watches the film, Ngako explains the creation process. "Urielle is extremely hardworking and perseverant, and she expresses these qualities on a day-to-day basis," Nishnianidze said.

#StudentsInYourFields: Urielle Ngako refuses to back down

Ahmed Ibrahim, opinion editor • March 16, 2025

Liv Resnick began riding horses at age five (left). Today, Resnick plans on furthering her education in equine management (right). "I completely fell in love with the animal and the sport and the type of people who are in that environment and that field, and I knew that this is something that I wanted to keep doing," Resnick said.

Liv Resnick pursues equine management after life-long passion for horses

Heerah Jayakumar, online editor in chief • March 13, 2025

Junior Olivia O’Connor represents DC Edge Junior Team USA as a synchronized skater. She is heading to Budapest during the middle of March to compete against other major synchronized skating teams. “The teams are judged and scored by the IS international judging system,” O’Connor said.

Oliva O’Connor glides to greatness

Becca Hwang, staff writer • March 11, 2025

Senior Justin Huang prepares to serve against his Northwest opponent. "I made sure to throw the ball higher and let it drop before I swung for my second serve," Huang said.

Sports

Boys’, girls’ tennis both victorious in season openers

Kian Kaz, staff writer

March 31, 2025

Junior Liana Usman plays soccer throughout the year for her club team. Usman observes Ramadan in March and said, “As hard as it is, I honestly really like fasting because it gives me something else to think about. My coaches are all super supportive and make sure I get breaks if I need them.”

Sports

Fasting season: Student-athletes affected by lifestyle changes

Helen Manolis, features editor

March 28, 2025

Junior Yeshetila Tafa fills out his bracket during advisory. He chooses Texas Tech to win the championship, as that's his favorite team.

Sports

More than basketball: March Madness brings students together

Cameron Pietak, staff writer

March 28, 2025

Sophomore Benedict Santos guards the net against the Churchill varsity boys' lacrosse team's attack on Mar. 21. The team fell to the Bulldogs 12-4.

Sports

Boys’ lacrosse looks to rebound after tough first loss to Churchill

Nathan Zweig, staff writer

March 27, 2025

Sports

D.C. United season begins, but who cares?

Chase Dolan, sports editor

March 27, 2025

"The Wizard of Oz" cast rehearses for their shows on April 3-6.

Arts

‘The Wizard of Oz’ loses fight for flight

Janna Frank, staff writer

March 27, 2025

Sophomore Ace Kippola performs in "Gallows Humor," an original play from Round House Theatre. The play follows an unsupervised classroom of students as they bond and fight during a lockdown. "It meant a lot to me, especially since the show was covering an issue that relates to teenagers. Getting to tell the story to so many people over the course of a weekend was one of the best experiences of my life," Kippola said.

Arts

Students by day, artists by night

Liam Sloan, staff writer

March 14, 2025

Junior Zion Allen, under the stage name Laida, performs in front of the WGT crowd alongside his mom.

Arts

Performers show off expertise in WGT

Jack Weinstein, staff writer

March 12, 2025

Past editions of the Literary Magazine line the shelves in room 253. The 2025 print publication of the Literary Magazine, or Lit Mag, will be published by the end of May. "Lit Mag displays artworks for people and artists alike to appreciate the skill of their classmates at Wootton, and connects more people to one another,” junior and shadow Editor-in-Chief Crystal Teng said.

Arts

Literary magazine prepares for print issue

Pragna Pothakamuri, features editor, race and equity editor

February 26, 2025

Senior planning performed at last year's event, when it was called TNL. Performers have prepared extensively for this year. "We have had to prepare a lot but it will be worth it and I am very excited," Santos said

Arts

Upcoming Wootton’s Got Talent event excites students

Eric Mehler, opinion editor

February 25, 2025

Opinion

A U.S. Army official recruiting at a career fair at Clarksburg High School in March 2022. Since conscription was ended in the 1970s, the military has increased their spending on advertisements and recruiting, according to KQED.

Military recruitment in high schools targets disadvantaged youth

Rebekah Buchman, features editor • March 31, 2025

Senior Mia Silbert enjoys her favorite hike, Old Rag.

Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency put national parks under pressure

March 20, 2025

Sophomore EJ Anderson has had to spend his advisory periods and lunch doing work due to the increase in assignments. "The third quarter has been really stressful. I have a lot more work to do now," Anderson said

Third quarter is worst of school year

March 20, 2025

The University of South Carolina's marching band practice field (left) and Harvard University's campus (right).

Two juniors debate the impact of society’s perception vs. location of schools in college applications

March 17, 2025

Reviews

David Corenswet stars as the Man of Steel in DC Studio's "Superman," releasing July 11.

Preview of spring, summer blockbusters

Zachary Derman, reviews editor • March 28, 2025

Senior Anna Jeyachandran goes to Barnes and Noble on Mar. 18 to pick up her copy of the newest installment in the Hunger Games series, "Sunrise On The Reaping."

SPOILER ALERT: ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ shocks readers

March 27, 2025

As I begin my 14th and final required reading book (pictured) of high school, I ranked a complete list of all my prior readings.

4 years, 11 books: the best and worst of required reading

March 16, 2025

Unlike an average Chick-fil-a, there is no red to be seen inside of the College Park location. The menu is much larger than the regular, highlighting test kitchen items such as pizza, burgers and wings.

Chick-fil-A’s “Little Blue Menu”: the College Park dining attraction

March 12, 2025

Features

Junior Mia Yang prepared apple pies for students to try at an apple pie sampling day for her AP Research study in February. Yang’s research focused on finding the difference in taste between American apple pies from different time periods. In AP Research, "I’ve learned how to collect data, organize and make it look professional," Yang said.

Apple pies to doctor’s offices: What really goes on in AP Research?

Pragna Pothakamuri, features editor, race and equity editor • April 1, 2025

Sophomores Malia Bellamy and Dylan Neustadt watch the Netflix docuseries "American Murder: Gabby Petito."

True-crime documentaries spark investigation amongst viewers

March 29, 2025

Substitute teacher Anna-May Hanson and sophomore Arnav Godha discuss classes for next year. "I watch the students grow. I have you in sixth grade and then see you walk across the stage as a senior," Hanson said.

Behind the Scenes: Substitute teachers step up to help staff, students

March 29, 2025

Junior Sofia Sossa celebrates her birthday with friends on Mar. 15. Sossa's birthday was earlier in the week on Thursday, Mar. 13. She said she enjoys having her birthday during the school year so her friends are around to enjoy the day with.

Are birthdays better during summer fun or surrounded by friends?

March 29, 2025

Columns

Senior Rayna Panikulam sits with her friends, seniors Leah Antony, Serena John and Ruthiga Veerasingham, at lunch on Monday, Feb. 24. Antony and John banter over what day graduation is while Panikulam and Veerasingham reminisce over senior sunrise. "I'm so grateful to have spent the last three and a half years surrounded by such beautiful and kind people and I'll cherish these moments for the rest of my life," Panikulam said.

Does romanticizing high school make senior year more painful?

Ahmed Ibrahim, opinion editor • February 27, 2025

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

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